Welcome to the 2026/27 Friends For Life Running Team!

We’re super excited to have you join us for Run For A Reason, one of our biggest fundraisers of the year! Let’s run, fundraise, and save some animals! Here are a few helpful things to get you started:

1. Your team contact

Christi Johnson, the volunteer team Chair this season, is your go-to person throughout the year. Best way to reach her:

Email: r unningteam@friends4life.org
Text or call 832-925-3276

2. How to set up your fundraising page

If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to personalize your page:

Go to man age.hakuapp.com/login and sign in using your email and password.
From the “Select an Account” page, choose “2027 Houston Marathon Race Weekend Fundraising Account.”
In the left-hand menu, click “Public Page.”
From there, you can update your story, customize your page, and grab your personal link to share.
Use your photos, or feel free to grab any of these banners.

3. Where to find other team members

While we are geographically scattered, there are many ways for us to connect:

4. Earning more perks

Ready for extra credit? Here are some (optional) ways to earn extra perks (see the matrix below for details):

Become a VIP by either recruiting 2 new runners or raising $1,000 before 1/1/27
Become a Superhero by either recruiting 5 new runners or raising $2,500 before 1/1/27
Recruited a new runner? F ill out this form. You can submit it as often as you’d like — we’ll keep track.
Reached a VIP status? Request your custom pet portrait here!

Get a pdf

5. Pick your booster animal

We’re making custom buttons for every runner, featuring a shelter pet of your choice. Let their face give you a little extra pep in your step — and help more animals get seen and adopted.

Browse adoptable animals here
Use this form to submit your booster animal’s name (and we’ll get working on that button : )

6. Mark your calendar

Every Monday at 7:15pm – Group run/walk from the shelter parking lot (3/4 miles
May 7 (Thur) at 7pm – Running with Krisathon
May 30 (Sat) at 2pm – (Virtual) Ask an Expert series “Protect your feet” with Dr. Randall Beckman, Podiatrist
June 3 (Wed) – Team-wide fundraising day with matching donations / Chevron fundraising contest
June 3 (Wed) at 7:45pm – Timeless Runners – Celebrating Global Running Day with a group run!
June 4 (Thur) at 7pm – Running with Krisathon
June 29 (Mon) at 6pm – Running with River Oaks Fleet Feet Run Club – meet at West Gray Fleet Feet
July 16 (Thur) – Team social! There will be dogs, snacks, raffle prizes, team shirts and booster animal buttons!

7. What your fundraising does

Get more graphics

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 and the only No-Kill animal charity in the race.

8. Fundraising ideas

THE BASICS

× Haku page: Customize your Haku page with photos and personal story

× Haku goal: Don’t hesitate to set a high goal. You’re only responsible for raising the minimum for your run ($250 for 5K, $500 for the marathon and half) but if you set a higher goal, it often motivates your friends to give more.

× Email: Add your fundraising link to your email signature. The text could read: “I’m running a half-marathon to help shelter animals. Help me meet my goal.”

× Facebook: When posting about your fundraiser on Facebook, avoid putting the donation link directly in the post—Facebook’s algorithm tends to penalize posts with external links. Instead, write an engaging caption, then place the link in the first comment. This helps your post reach more people while still making it easy for them to donate.

× Instagram posts: Instagram doesn’t support clickable links in regular posts, so be sure to add your fundraising link to your bio. When you post about your fundraiser, include a simple call to action like: “Donate using the link in my profile.”

× Instagram Stories: Instagram Stories do support links—so take advantage of that feature whenever you can!

× Reach directly: Social media posts are great for raising awareness, but they’re often not as effective as reaching out directly. If you really want someone to donate, send a personal message via text, email, or messenger. A direct ask feels more meaningful—and it’s harder to ignore!

THE FUN

× Bake (or cook) for bucks: Offer baked goods (dog biscuits?), a home-cooked meal, or a picnic delivery to local friends who donate.

× Special occasions: Use your birthday, anniversary, or milestone as a reason to give. Example: “I’m turning 35—please donate $35 to my fundraiser to help shelter animals.”

× Host a gathering: Plan a small event like an ice cream social, coffee hangout, or movie night, and ask attendees to donate $20 or more toward your fundraising goal.

× Auction your miles: Let friends and family sponsor specific miles of your race. Example: Mile 1 for $10, Mile 7 for $25, Mile 22 for $100.

× Auction your playlist: Invite donors to shape your race day playlist. Example: For a $50 donation, someone can choose one song to add to your running playlist.

× Social media challenge: If you hit a goal, commit to something fun: dye your hair, run in costume, or do a dance on Instagram.