5 events in Shelby County, Alabama

Family and Friends will come together on February 14, 2026 to remember John Rose and to continue his legacy of faith. He was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, where he was very involved in the youth groups. He was very passionate about keeping youth involved in the church. We are raising money to establish a scholarship fund at Our Lady of the Valley. We will give a scholarship each year to a graduating high school senior who has participated in the youth groups and in the life of the church. All proceeds from the run will be given to the scholarship fund that is established at the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. John passed away from a heart attack on November 12, 2024 but his heart of faith lives on, inspiring youth to stay involved in the church.

visit https://heart-of-faith-memorial-run.my.canva.site

Donations to the John S Rose Heart of Faith Scholarship:

Online Giving:

https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/bb07d833-0c19-47d8-ac9a-50e06ebbe3af

Mail your donation:

Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama

Attention: Allen McClendon

PO Box 12047

Birmingham, AL 35202

Make check payable to Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. Put “John S Rose Heart of Faith Memorial Scholarship Fund” in memo line.

5K

• Timed/chipped bib

• Event T-shirt included if registered by January 30th at 8:00 a.m. After this, shirt is not included in the registration but limited shirts are available in the on-line store for purchase.

• Coupon codes are available to runners making a donation to the scholarship fund. Contact us prior to registering.

https://strava.app.link/nrn5G4sic0b --link of course preview

1 Mile Fun Run/Walk

• Not a timed event

• No shirt given--limited quantities and sizes available in the on-line store.

• free to participate

Race Day Schedule

10:30--Prayers at OLV Columbarium

11:00--Race Set-up

12:00--Bib pickup/check-in/registration begins

12:45--Opening remarks and prayer

1:00-5K begins

1:45--Mile fun run begins

2:30--awards ceremony

Awards:

5K

Awards will be presented to the top overall male and female runners. Additionally, the top finisher in each of the following age groups (male and female) will be recognized:

• up to age 14

• 15-19

• 20-35

• 36-49

• 50 and up

Bib and t-shirt pick up:

Day of the race, Saturday, Feb. 14 beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Heardmont Park (5348 Cahaba Valley Road)

Food and Drink:

Betty Jean's Food Hut will be at the race offering coffee, hot chocolate, hot dogs, nachos, pulled chicken sandwiches, chips, soft drinks and water. Please plan to eat and drink at the concession stand.

The 12th Annual #Judy5K will be held on Saturday, March 14!

Run, walk, or sleep in to support our great students, as all proceeds from this race go to scholarships for JSCC students in need.

All are invited to enjoy fun activities including free popcorn, cotton candy, and other tasty treats! PLUS a DJ, face painting, and more!

The annual Judy M. Merritt Memorial 5K is held in honor of Jefferson State Community College’s former president Dr. Judy M. Merritt. Serving as President for 35 years, she was the first female president of an Alabama college; her leadership and vision were unparalleled. Judy, as she preferred to be called, embodied the spirit of Jefferson State and our mission to serve all in our community. “While the dream for many has been achieved, the fight for pathways to education, equality, and inclusion continues.” ~ Judy M. Merritt

Medals will be awarded as follows:

• 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Top Male & Female Overall

• Top male and female runners in the following categories:

12 & Under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+

Date:

March 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

Price:

5K - $20 if registered before February 13; $25 if registered February 14 - March 13; $30 if registered on March 14 (day of race)

$15 for College Students and Ages 18 and under - Use Code STUDENT at Checkout

Out of state but still want to support? Want to sleep in on race day? Just want the T-shirt? Choose the Sleep In 5k / Virtual Challenge!

Price: Sleep In 5k / Virtual Challenge - $15

5K participants and Virtual Challenge/Sleep In 5K participants will receive a swag bag, including the race day shirt (*T-Shirt - only guaranteed if registered before February 13th).

Location:

Hoover's Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35242

Packet Pick Up:

Thursday, March 12th, between 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., and Friday, March 13th, between 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Packet pickup is in the lobby of the Judy M. Merritt Health Science building on JSCC's Shelby-Hoover campus, located across from Veterans Park at the corner of Valleydale Road and Jaguar Drive.

Packets will also be available for pickup on race day, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Veterans Park Pavilion. All runners should be checked in by 8:30 a.m.

Award Ceremony:

Winners will be announced, and medals awarded around 10:30 a.m. at the pavilion.

https://www.jeffersonstate.edu/5k/

The Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue 5K Meow-A-Thon is a 5k race and the Whisker Walk is a 1 mile fun run/walk benefiting Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue, a no-kill, cage-free shelter for cats and kittens.

The race will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road, Hoover, AL. Veterans Park offers a varied terrain for running, including fields, trails and pavement.

The race will be held rain or shine. In the event of severe weather we will operate on a delay. Check-in begins at 7:00 am. The 5K Meow-A-Thon will start at 8:00 am. The 1 mile Whisker walk/run will start at 9:30. This will allow time for 5k awards and to allow 5k runners to participate with family in the whisker walk!

Register online through midnight May 1, 2026.

The entry fee for the 5k Meow-a-Thon is $25, or $15 for children 10 and under.

The entry fee for the 1 mile Whisker walk/run is $15, or $5 for children 10 and under.

Packet pickup will be available Friday May 1st at Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue, 3432 Old Columbiana Rd Birmingham, AL 35226 between 12:30pm and 6pm. You may also register in person at Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue Friday May 1st between 12:30pm and 6pm.

Packet pickup and day of registration will be available Saturday morning May 2nd at Veterans Park starting at 7am.

Meow-A-Thon entry fee the day of the race is $30, or $20 for children 10 and under.

Whisker Walk entry fee the day of the race is $20, or $10 for children 10 and under.

If you don't want to run but want the T-shirt? Or have opted for the 1Mile Whisker Walk (which does not include a race shirt). You can order a shirt from the Race Store - Just click on the "More" menu item and select "Store'. Shirts must be picked up at the Haven or the day of the race. There will be no shipping option. We will do our best to guarantee sizes but due to the order deadline for the T-shirt, signups after April 15th cannot be guaranteed their selected size.

Prizes will be awarded for overall male and female 5k finishers (1st thru 3rd) as well as age group awards for male and female 1st thru 3rd finishers!

We have made it our mission to save abandoned, stray, and injured animals, provide them with the care they need in a safe and loving environment, and adopt them into forever homes. To find out more about Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue visit our website at http://www.kittykathavenrescue.org or join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kittykathavenrescue .

Event Description

The name of this event says it all… Because of the Brave! We love this country and all of us enjoy the freedom of living in the United States of America. However, this freedom we enjoy came at a price. On this Memorial Day, come out and join us in an event that truly honors the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Because of the Brave 5K is truly about reflecting on this sacrifice that was made by so many of our heroes.

These men and women carried their American flag and served our country with honor. What better way to honor them, than to carry an American flag while running/walking a 5K? As part of this event, each runner/walker must carry a 2’x 3’ American flag during the entire 5K course. The flag will be affixed to a pole so it will be easy to carry. The flag and pole together will be light so even children will be able to participate.

This event is not about you and, therefore, is not a race. You can run/walk at whatever pace you would like to, but this is not a timed 5K event.

Because of the Brave 5k will be hosted by the American Village. The Alabama National Cemetery is also next door to the American Village. The Alabama National Cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of our brave heroes. A portion of your entry fee will be donated to both the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery and the American Village.

Because of the Brave 5K starts at 7:00 AM. This allows runners/walkers to finish the 5K and have plenty of time to visit the Alabama National Cemetery at 9:00 AM for their annual Memorial Day Service. The American Village will be having their annual Memorial Day Celebration as well. So, come out and run Because of the Brave 5K, visit the Alabama National Cemetery’s Memorial Day Service, and enjoy the afternoon at American Village’s Memorial Day Celebration for a full day of honoring the fallen and fun with the family!

Course Description

The 5K course will wind throughout the beautiful grounds at American Village. The course consists of a 1.55-mile loop and will be clearly marked with American flags. Runners/walkers must complete the loop twice to finish the course and complete the 5K distance. The entire course will be on paved surfaces, so strollers and wheelchairs are welcome.

Time and Location

Memorial Day: Monday May 25, 2026 @ 7:00 AM

Because of the Brave 5K will be held at American Village in Montevallo, Alabama.

Address: 3727 Highway 119 Montevallo, AL 35115

The GPS coordinates of the parking lot you’ll want to park in are: (33.137730, -86.829740)

Packet Pickup

There is no early packet pickup for this event. Race day packet pickup will be at the start/finish line which will be located near the main parking lots of American Village. There will be plenty of parking and access to restrooms. Packet pickup will be from 5:30 AM to 6:30 AM. A pre-run briefing will take place at 6:40 AM. The 5K run/walk will begin at 7:00 AM sharp.

Runners will receive a 2’ x 3’American flag attached to a pole at packet pickup.

We will also have a custom Because of the Brave 5K flag near the start/finish line. Please come prepared to write the name of a hero or heroes that you will be running/walking the 5K in honor of. This flag will come back annually at each future Because of the Brave 5K event and be on display during the run. This, again, ensures we never forget the names of our heroes who died for this country.

Swag

This event is organized by The Running Birds so the swag will be top notch. All runners/walkers will receive a custom Because of the Brave 5K challenge coin at the finish line. Runners/walkers will exchange the American flag they’ve carried during the 5K course for the challenge coin. Challenge coins are commonly exchanged within the military. Another way to honor the brave is to keep this tradition. This challenge coin will be something you can take away from this event as a reminder of the freedom we have “Because of the Brave!” There will be no awards given to the top finishers. Again, this is not a race but rather an event to honor those brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Aid Station

We will provide one water station during the course at the start/finish line area. Runners/walkers will be able to hydrate at the halfway point and at the finish line. Fruit will also be provided at the finish line.

Refunds

We understand things happen in training and in life itself. However, no refunds will be given to any runner for this competition. In the event you can find another runner to take your spot, you can transfer your entry to them. You can also defer your entry to next year’s event. Just email us and we will make sure to get it taken care of.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this event, contact us at [email protected]

For more information about the American Village visit their website:

https://www.americanvillage.org/

For more information about the Alabama National Cemetery visit their website:

https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/alabama.asp

Donations

In addition to a portion of your entry fee that will be donated to the American Village and the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery, you can make a donation of any amount to either or both of them. Any additional donations will go straight to American Village and/or the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery.