The Best Buy Foundation® Charity Classic Run/Walk

Join the Augsburg Physician Associate (PA) Program on April 25th as we bring our annual 5K Run/Walk back!

We'll start the race at Thomas Beach, take a lap around the beautiful lake Bde Maka Ska, and finish back at Thomas Beach.

We are raising funds for the International Institute of Minnesota, which supports immigrants and refugees. Founded in 1919, the International Institute of Minnesota offers new Americans quality services to support their journey to stability and success, such as refugee resettlement, English education, career development, and citizenship assistance. We are also raising funds for our program's student society to provide more learning and leadership opportunities for the cohort.

All runners will receive a racing T-shirt! The first 70 runners to sign up will receive a reusable aluminum water bottle.

Water will be provided halfway through and at the end of the race. A small snack will be provided at the finish line. A first-aid station and port-a-potties will be available at the start/finish line.

Can’t make it there but want to contribute to the cause? Feel free to donate on a pay-what-you-want scale through our donate link.

FAQ:

What is the cost?

General participants: $35

Student participants: $25

Participants less than 12 years old: Free

What's included in the Registration Fee?

By signing up, you will receive a race T-shirt. The first 70 people to sign up will also receive an aluminum water bottle. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the race.

Where do I park?

Please plan to park on the street along W Bde Maka Ska Pkwy or an adjacent street. Limited parking in the Thomas Beach parking lot will also be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. This parking lot has pay meters.

Will there be medical personnel on hand?

Yes, a first-aid station will be available and run by a medical professional at the start/finish of the race.

Are there restrooms?

Port-a-potties are located near the start/finish line at Thomas Beach.

What does the race course look like?

One loop around Bde Maka Ska starting and finishing at Thomas Beach. The race will take place on the sidewalks with minimal elevation gain (36 feet in total). Check out the map here.

Are kids allowed?

Yes! Kids and strollers are allowed, and kids under 12 years old can run/walk for free.

Are pets allowed?

Due to the large number of people, we ask that pets stay at home.

What if it rains?

We will plan to continue the event unless there is lightning or severe weather in the area.

Will there be an official time recording?

We do not have the equipment or funding to supply time-tracking bibs for every participant. Instead, we will have a large race clock stationed at the start and finish of the race that will allow participants to track their own time.

Get ready to move, groove, and feel the Vibe of Valley View Middle School!

This community 5K run/walk is all about bringing people together for a day of fun, fitness, and to share the Vibe of our community.

What is the VVMS Vibe?

At Valley View Middle School, the Vibe is more than just energy—it’s a movement. It’s a commitment to love up and level up, fostering a school culture that is inclusive, connected, and focused on personal and collective growth.

The Valley View Vibe is rooted in community, respect, and excellence. We believe in the power of all of us helping all of us, where students, staff, parents, and caregivers work together to create an environment that is both supportive and challenging. We embrace accountability, celebrate diversity, and encourage curiosity, knowing that education is about more than just academics—it's about becoming the best versions of ourselves.

Our Vibe means that we:

Your favorite things all in one place: running and donuts! Whether you are a runner, a walker, or a donut-enthusiast, this is the event for you! We are excited for our 12th annual Donut Dash 5K and Mini-Donut Dash ½ Mile for Kids, with the course leaving and finishing at Eagle Ridge Academy in Minnetonka This route is an accurately measured 5K course, is chip- and mat-timed, and takes you on a picturesque run or walk, just north of Bren Road. There will be complimentary chair massages and rock tape applications, DJ music, giveaways, fun youth activities and obstacle course, post-race refreshments and snacks, and mini-donuts! 5K finishers will receive a free Chick-fil-A meal. Fun for all ages!

New this year: Purchase your signature Donut Dash 5K sticker decal (3"x2") to proudly display on your water bottle. Add it on at check-out.

All 5K registrants will receive a commemorative 2026 Donut Dash tech shirt (tri-blend), post-race refreshments and snacks, and DONUTS. Mini-dashers will receive a 2026 Donut Dash shirt (50/50% poly/cotton), participation medal, and bag of mini-donuts.

To view ROUTE: https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/page/donut-dash

To view photo gallery from 2025 Donut Dash: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1513004443053207&type=3

Never done a 5K? There are apps out there to help you out work your way up to a 5K: Endomondo, Runkeeper, Runtastic, Nike+ Run Club, Map My Run, Zombies, Run!

Proceeds will benefit Eagle Ridge Academy, offering a time-tested, Classical Liberal Arts education to students in grades K-12.

5K Pricing*:

$35 Student and Alumni 5K (through May 6)

$40 Student and Alumni 5K (Same Day Registration: May 9)

$40 Adult 5K Registration (through April 2)

$45 Adult 5K Registration (April 3 - May 8)

$50 Adult 5K Registration (Same Day Registration: May 9)

Kids Mini Donut Dash 1/2 Mile Pricing*:

(Kids 10 and younger)

$20 Mini-Donut Dash Pricing (through April 2)

$25 Mini-Donut Dash (April 3 through May 10)

Online Registration Ends 5/6/2025 at 9 p.m.

All registrations are non-refundable.

To register via mail with cash or check (written to FERA), please visit https://www.eagleridgeacademy.org/page/donut-dash to download the registration brochure, and return with your payment to Eagle Ridge Academy.

Packet pick-up is on Friday, May 8 from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Eagle Ridge Academy, 11111 Bren Rd. W, Minnetonka, MN, or on race day, May 9, starting at 7:15 a.m.

Not interested in running? Consider volunteering! We need more than 100 volunteers to make this event run smoothly. Sign up will be available in late January.

*Please note that the shirt order will go in on 4/3/2026 so registrations after 4/2/2026 are not guaranteed a shirt (or a shirt in their preferred size.) We will do our best to accommodate requests based on limited overages ordered.

If you do not wish to run but would like to make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to Friends of Eagle Ridge Academy to help support student enrichment and Classical Education, please click here.

Friends of Eagle Ridge Academy, a 501(c)(3) foundation, exists to solely support and sustain the future of Eagle Ridge Academy.

The 5th annual head and neck cancer run/walk for a cause event will be held on May 17th, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.. The event will start at Thomas Beach on Lake Bde Maka Ska.

Address: 3751 West Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Minneapolis, MN

Details:

Walkers, runners and volunteers come together to honor cancer survivors, raise awareness about reducing cancer risk and raise money to bring hope to cancer patients. Participation starts at $25.

Benefiting the University of Minnesota Foundation Masonic Cancer Center

A flat and fast USATF certified 5 km course around beautiful Lake Nokomis in South Minneapolis.

Location: Near the Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 East Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, North end of Lake Nokomis.

Register online for $40 through 11.59 p.m. Thursday, 5/21/26. USATF-Minnesota members get a $5 discount (get the code from your USATF club coordinator).

Late registration online for $50 Friday, 5/22/26 through 11.59 p.m. Sunday, 5/24/26. No discounts for late registration.

No Race Day Registration.

Race Day Bib Number & Shirt Pick Up:

Mill City Running will host Bib and Shirt Pick up at the store's Northeast location (411 E. Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis MN 55414) Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24. If you are unable to pick up your Bib and Shirt ahead of time, you can pick it up Monday May 25, at Lake Nokomis Community Center from 7:00 to 8:15 AM

Due to unanticipated growth of the event, we've run out of most shirt sizes. We know that many of you had to select a shirt size that doesn't work for you. We ask that you take the size that you selected at registration, then come back to the shirt table after the race and we may be able to swap for a better size. Shirts from previous years may be available as well.

About Brian Kraft

Brian Kraft was an enthusiastic and talented runner from Bemidji, Minnesota. His running career was cut short at the age of 19 with the discovery of Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in his back. Brian lived with cancer for 15 years, undergoing chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and countless surgical procedures.

Throughout the years, Brian continued to run. He ran the lakes and parkways and raced with the local running crowd. In spite of all that life threw his way, he kept a positive attitude. Brian attributed his strength in his fight against cancer to his love of running and to the work of his long-time friend, Dr. Arny Leonard.

Dr. Arnold S. Leonard and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota and the National Cancer Institute have made significant advances in cancer research in the last five years. They are working on a series of projects that reduces cancers of all kinds by boosting the central immune system by genetic engineering. This exciting new field of cancer therapy has great promise.

All donations submitted with race entries and a portion of the race proceeds will go to the University of Minnesota Foundation Masonic Cancer Center.

A special thanks to our sponsor this year -- Mill City Running!