10 walking events in Kent County, Michigan

Join us at the Bier Distillery 5K (or 1 mile walk) in Comstock Park, MI on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Start time is 9:30 am. The 5K and 1 mile route will utilize the White Pine Trail system. Participants will receive a craft cocktail or craft soda courtesy of Bier Distillery after they finish the event.

All proceeds benefit Food Hugs!--Food Hugs is driven by a single goal--"to do our part in making the world a better place for all. This is done through crowd funding and the generous hearts of amazing local people. The concept is simple, we feed front line workers, people who have suddenly lost a loved one, or anyone in need of a pick-me-up."

What you get when you register:

-Race t-shirt, guaranteed if you register by midnight April 22. We will order extra shirts but may run out (or not have your size). We'll set the extra shirts aside for those that registered after the cutoff.

-Timing for 5K and 1 mile

-Traffic free route

-Voucher for cocktail or craft soda to be redeemed at Bier Distillery

-Potential overall or age group award

-Post race snack

Packet pickup will be held at Bier Distillery starting at 8:30 am on Saturday, May 3. Bier Distillery's address is 5295 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321. Day of event registration will be available.

Age groups are as follows: 12 and under, 13-15,16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

Join us at the Bier Distillery 5K (or 1 mile walk) in Comstock Park, MI on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Start time is 9:30 am. The 5K and 1 mile route will utilize the White Pine Trail system. Participants will receive a craft cocktail or craft soda courtesy of Bier Distillery after they finish the event.

All proceeds benefit Food Hugs!--Food Hugs is driven by a single goal--"to do our part in making the world a better place for all. This is done through crowd funding and the generous hearts of amazing local people. The concept is simple, we feed front line workers, people who have suddenly lost a loved one, or anyone in need of a pick-me-up."

What you get when you register:

-Race t-shirt, guaranteed if you register by midnight April 21. We will order extra shirts but may run out (or not have your size). We'll set the extra shirts aside for those that registered after the cutoff.

-Timing for 5K and 1 mile

-Traffic free route

-Voucher for cocktail or craft soda to be redeemed at Bier Distillery

-Potential overall or age group award

-Post race snack

Packet pickup will be held at Bier Distillery starting at 8:30 am on Saturday, May 2. Bier Distillery's address is 5295 West River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321. Day of event registration will be available.

Age groups are as follows: 12 and under, 13-15,16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

The South Suburban Christian Schools are hosting the third annual Strong Foundations 5K Run/Walk this spring. The goal of this community event is to raise funds for the five schools’ Foundations, which reduces the overall tuition costs for all students. Again this year, there will be a Strong Foundations Fun Run, which is a 1-mile run for all ages and it will be officially timed.

The South Suburban Christian Schools include:

• Byron Center Christian

• Dutton Christian

• Legacy Christian

• Moline Christian

• South Christian

Join us May 16th for the 5th annual Brian Reiffer Addiction Awareness 5K Run/Walk, a community event dedicated to remembrance, education, and hope.

Hosted by Max Effort Performance, this 5K run and walk raises awareness about addiction and overdose while raising funds to support local agencies and families impacted by substance use. Over the past four years, we have welcomed approximately 200 participants annually and raised more than $50,000 to support organizations such as the Kinzler Family First Foundation, Elle’s Place, and Selah House Recovery, as well as a trust established to benefit Brian’s four children.

We remain committed to our mission to raise awareness, provide resources, and offer encouragement to individuals and families affected by addiction. We also celebrate those on the path of recovery, and we hope this event serves as a reminder that you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone.

About Brian

Brian Reiffer was a well known and deeply loved member of the Caledonia community. In July 2021, Brian lost his battle with opioid addiction, leaving behind four children, three sons and a daughter, and a family forever changed by his loss. As we move into our fifth year without Brian, we continue to find ways to share information related to drug abuse and overdose prevention while educating community members, friends, and families about the support systems available to them.

Why This Matters

The impact of overdose in our country is staggering. Drug overdose is one of the leading causes of death for adults ages 18 to 45, affecting families, workplaces, and communities across the United States every day. In 2023, more than 78.4 million fentanyl laced counterfeit pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized in the United States, an amount equivalent to hundreds of millions of potentially lethal doses. With just 2 mg of fentanyl being a potentially deadly dose, the need for awareness and action has never been more urgent.

If this event reaches just one person, one friend, one father, one daughter, and offers them hope or a connection to support, then we have made a difference. We invite you to join us on May 16th as we run, walk, remember, and advocate for change.

Together, we can turn awareness into action.

This is a stroller and dog friendly event.

#BrianReiffer5K #AddictionAwareness #YouAreNotAlone

Hi!

My name is Johnny Agar and I’m the Race Director of the 3rd Annual St. Patrick Parnell Festival 5K named Johnny’s Run!

Being an athlete was something I had always wanted, and my cerebral palsy tried to prevent me from becoming one! Wheelchair sports were out of the question since I can only use one hand, and nobody wants someone on their team who can only spin in circles! 😊

Several years ago, my dad started pushing me in road races as a way for me to participate in sports. After doing several races with my dad, I knew I was capable of more after seeing athletes around me push themselves past their own physical and mental challenges.

So, I decided to finish a race on my own two feet with the help of my walker even though I had only ever walked 23 steps! I accomplished my goal in 2013 at the Saint Patrick Parnell Festival 5k. It took me one hour and forty-five minutes to complete and it was an amazing accomplishment for me!

That “Impossible Mile” has led to an abundance of blessings— one of which is being able to direct this traditional race that the Festival Committee agreed to dub now as Johnny’s Run (Hosted by St Patrick Parnell Festival) It's quite an honor, and I’m equally honored to be learning how to direct a race from one of the area’s best -- Mr. Tom Theoret, who was the race director for nearly 30 years growing the Irish Jig from a few hundred to the many thousand who run it today.

I would love to invite you to participate with us in this family-friendly race that always kicks off the St Patrick Parnell Festival in Parnell, Michigan.

This year, we are excited because there will be THREE opportunities to participate...the Johnny's Run 5k , the Impossible Mile Challenge, and the Kids' Race!