Burning River

The 12th Annual West Akron African American Wellness 5K Race is fast approaching and we look forward to exceeding last year’s participation and seeing you on Saturday, August 2, 2025!

The goal of the West Akron 5k Race is to unite the community in a spirit of wellness and philanthropy while raising funds to benefit students in the community. With the support of United Baptist Church, The Akron NAACP, Summa Health, the Gus Johnson Community Foundation, CareSource, Akron Children’s Hospital, Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home, this year’s race is on track to do just that with the help and support of our long-time sponsors. This 5K Race Initiative aims to bring awareness of disparities with diabetes, high blood pressure, and the risk of stroke among men while also supplying our schools, that are lacking, the resources needed to ensure our children receive the best education possible.

The West Akron 5K was founded by two-time Iraq war veteran and Buchtel alumni Mary Anderson (class of 1994) began the West Akron 5k in 2013 as a means of giving back to the school and community that nurtured her. We aim to unify a community around wellness and philanthropy that benefits the students in the Buchtel Cluster and citizens in Summit County and surrounding areas. The recent pandemic has prompted us to expand into education around COVID-19, testing, and partnering with entities to provide vaccines and boosters. A goal of the 5K Run/Walk is to raise funds in order to supply our cluster schools, that are lacking, the resources needed to ensure our children receive the best education possible while also informing the community about living a healthy life.

We need your support to take both of these important issues head on! If you can’t run you can walk. If you can’t walk you can still donate!!!

We look forward to another successful race that will benefit the children and families within our community.

TIME TO GET YOUR PICKLE ON!

Akron’s Pride: Akron Pickle

We’ve been magically turning cucumbers into something way better since 2009. Join us for a FUN FUN FUN 5K that kicks off the Akron Pickle Fest in Downtown Akron. Awards to the Top 3 Overall Men/Women and Top 3 in Age Groups 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

Special Run with Your Dog Division!

The Pickle Fest itself opens immediately after the awards for the 5K at 10:00am

Join Us for the 4th Annual Live. Love. Thrive. 5K Run & 2.5K Walk!

Make this Labor Day truly meaningful by participating in the Live. Love. Thrive. 5K Run & 2.5 Walk on Monday, September 7th at the stunning Munroe Falls Metro Park! Our 5K chip timed run will start at 9:15am while the 2.5K untimed walk will begin at 8:30am.

Hosted by Linc Worldwide, a Stow, Ohio-based nonprofit, this event helps us raise crucial funds for our new faith-based school in Kenya, providing orphaned and impoverished children with food, water, access to medical care and a strong education.

Choose between our 5K Run or 2.5K Walk, perfect for all ages and abilities. Can't join in person? Register as a virtual participant and support the cause from anywhere!

Enjoy a fun, family-friendly atmosphere as you make your way around the park’s scenic, tree-lined lake—all while making a lasting impact on young lives.

Did you know that you can help us grow our event?

After you register to run or walk, you will get an email confirmation. Inside of that confirmation will be a special link. Share that special link with family and friends and if 5 of them use it, you will have $20 of your entry fee refunded!!

Did you know that...

you can order additional adult and child sized event shirts? Just click on the Store tab on the left menu!

We invite you to the Return of the Four Leaf Clover 4-mile run and Alayna Bretsik Family Fun Run to benefit cancer patients of all ages right here in Northeast Ohio on Saturday, September 12th at 10:00am.

This is the must do short distance run in the Akron area for 2026! Of course, you can walk it too! This challenging, fun four-mile course will travel through some of the famous brick road West Hill neighborhoods of Akron, including historic Glendale Cemetery. The run will finish on the 50-yard line of John Cistone Field at the VanDevere Automotive Family Station on the campus of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Yes, the same field that LeBron played on! Included in all the fun is the finisher’s party. The Four Leaf Clover Run Finisher’s Festival is complete with live music featuring Disco Inferno, refreshments, and an onsite BBQ. There is also an awards ceremony for overall and age group winners and recognition of fundraising champions and cancer fighters. Most importantly, your entry fee is not just another race fee; think of it as a gift to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

All Runners/Walkers receive:

Commemorative Gift

Race T-shirt

Finishers Festival

Goodie Bag

BBQ Meal

One Beer Ticket (21 age or over)

Overall/Age/Group Awards.