2025/26: Record-Breaking Year for the #RFAR Running Team!
This was our 7th year as a Chevron Houston Marathon charity partner, and our biggest #RFAR team ever! Huge thanks to our runners, our 2025/26 Chair Lisa Cari, our sponsors, and the entire team for an incredible effort — raising $240,000 for shelter animals. You can support our 2025/26 Running Team through January 31, 2026 by using this link.
Now Recruiting our 2026/27 Running Team
We’re entering our 8th year as a Chevron Houston Marathon charity partner! Friends For Life welcomes Christi Johnson as the 2026/27 Running Team Chair, and we’re fired up to make 2026/27 our most impactful season yet!
Note: Friends For Life is a No-Kill animal shelter in Houston, Texas. We are a 501(c)(3) organization with a 4-star (top) rating by Charity Navigator.
Run for a Reason: Registration Options
The Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run for a Reason program offers two main ways to participate and support Friends For Life. You can either Fundraise for Registration, where you raise funds directly for Friends For Life to secure your entry, or you can Donate for Registration, which guarantees your spot in the race with a $350 donation. Donating automatically qualifies you for the first level of HERO benefits, but anyone who raises enough can achieve HERO status. Explore the options below to see how you can get involved.
| Fundraising for Registration | Donate for Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| Commitment | Raise $250 in donations for 5K Raise $500 in donations for full and half marathon | $350 tax-deductible donation to Friends For Life |
| Fundraising | Mandatory | Optional |
| Registration Fee | Paid by FFL if fundraising minimum is met | Paid by Participant at registration |
| Perks and Benefits | Race entry upon meeting fundraising milestones | Guaranteed race entry and exclusive HERO perks based on amount fundraised |
| Deadlines | Milestones: $175 by Oct. 1 (half marathon and marathon) or Dec. 1 (5K runners). Full amount by Jan. 5 | Donation at registration; fundraising can continue |
| Race Entry | Conditional on fundraising milestones | Guaranteed entry |
FAQs
Q: What’s the difference between running as an individual vs. running for a charity?
When you run as an individual, you sign up and pay a registration fee.
When you run for a registered charity, the organization will pay your registration fee. In return, you commit to raising money for the charity. You commit to raising $500 if you run the marathon or the half, or $250 if you participate in the 5K.
Q: Is there a way to run for Friends For Life but not fundraise donations?
Yes, A HERO runner makes a tax-deductible donation of $350 to Friends For Life and pays the registration fee during registration. This way, you can still be part of our Running Team without having to fundraise. You can register as a HERO runner here.
Q: How do I sign up to fundraise for registration?
Q: The form is confusing. Can somebody help me sign up?
Absolutely! Please email runningteam@friends4life.org and one of our team members will contact you to walk you through the questions.
Q: What do I get for being part of the team?
We are thrilled to welcome every new runner or walker! In addition to helping animals, you also get a support group! When you join our Running Team Facebook group, runners exchange training tips and tools. If you are in Houston, we have a practice run every Monday at 7:15 pm, starting at the shelter parking lot. You get a team shirt, a periodic email from our Running Team lead, and are invited to runners’ socials.
Q: How do I raise money?
When you sign up, you’ll create a participant account and your own fundraising page. You can personalize it with photos, animal stories, or your own goals—and you’re welcome to use content from our Running Team Toolkit. Once it’s ready, just share your page link with friends, family, or coworkers when asking for their support.
Q: What are Hero perks?
Once you fundraise or donate $350 or above, you are considered a HERO runner! Click here to learn more about becoming a HERO.
Q: Are there deadlines to meet the fundraising goal?
Yes. Each charity runner needs to hit an early fundraising milestone before race weekend. If you’re running the 5K, your goal is to raise $250 by January 5, 2027—with at least $175 raised by December 1, 2026. Half and marathon runners need to raise $500 total by January 5, 2027, with at least $175 raised by October 1, 2026.
Q: I already signed up for one of the Chevron races. How can I switch to the Friends For Life Running Team?
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Thank you to our 2025/26 Sponsors!
