Race for a Cause

The 2023 Charity Program is now seeking Marathon & 10 Mile participants! 

Looking for the courage to sign up for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or Medtronic TC 10 Mile, or the motivation to make it to the finish line? We have you covered! If you are looking for a cause to add depth to your experience, Twin Cities In Motion’s Charity Program has a variety of causes to ignite your fitness journey at Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend. 

Better yourself AND your community. Race for a cause! Add meaning to your miles by participating in our community and charity program. Sign up with official charity partners of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and Medtronic TC 10 Mile. Questions? Please email oliviag@tcmevents.org for more information. 

Fundraising

Givengain 

Givengain is Twin Cities In Motion’s preferred fundraising platform. Click here to donate to a Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend Official Charity Partner. 

TCM Premier Charity Partners 

Brave Like Gabe 

*This charity has entries into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile only

The Brave Like Gabe Foundation is an organization in memorial of Gabrielle “Gabe” Grunewald and her battle with an incurable salivary gland cancer. Their mission is to support rare cancer research and empower all cancer survivors through physical activity. They value hope, joy, kindness, bravery, equity, community, and integrity. 

Want to join their team? Contact Alyssa Hawkins, alyssa@bravelikegabe.org, 651-460-9662

Firefly Sisterhood 

*This charity has entries into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile only

Firefly Sisterhood’s mission is to foster one-to-one social and emotional connections between women who are impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis and inspirational survivors. The support services are free and can be delivered at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, and into survivorship. Their overarching goal is a future where no woman faces breast cancer alone.

Want to join their team? Contact Genna Haddad, genna.haddad@fireflysisterhood.org

World Vision 

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the cause of poverty and injustice. They pursue their mission with a commitment to transformational development, emergency relief, promotion of justice, and more. 

Want to join their team? Contact Nick Muroki, nmuroki@worldvision.org, 724-882-1382  

TCM Major Charity Partners

Can Do Canines 

*This charity has entries into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile only

Can Do Canines is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs. They envision a world where people with disabilities live free and independent lives. 

Want to join their team? Contact Sheila Ross, sross@candocanines.org, 763-200-1409

Children’s Surgery International 

*This charity has entries into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile only

Children’s Surgery International provides free pediatric medical and surgical services, along with professional education and training, to communities in need around the world. They make a difference by spreading a message of hope.  

Want to join their team? Contact Veronika Skorich, veronika@childrenssurgeryintl.org, 612-746-4082 

Rare Disease Renegades 

*This charity has entries into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile only

Rare Disease Renegades offer effective, life-saving treatments developed through collaborations with world-renowned researchers and clinicians, and in partnership with generous donors. They develop custom therapeutics that are as unique to the individual they are meant to treat. 

Want to join their team? Contact Billy Lester, admin@rarediseaserenegades.org, 516-296-0923 

Vail Place 

*This charity has entries into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile only

Vail Place is a community resource center for adults with serious mental illnesses. Their mission is to help these people avoid crisis, achieve stability, and pursue active, fulfilling lives based on their individual abilities.  

Want to join their team? Contact Katee Crawford, kcrawford@vailplace.org, 952-945-4270 

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity 

*This charity has entries into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile only

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity brings people together to create, preserve, and promote affordable homeownership and advance racial equity in housing. Their vision is an equitable Twin Cities region where all families have access to the transformational power of homeownership. 

Want to join their team? Contact Bjorn Erickson, bjorn.erickson@tchabitat.org 

Venture 

Venture focuses their efforts on marginalized communities to address systemic injustices. They work to address immediate needs while simultaneously developing long-term programs that will break cycles of starvation, lack of education, human trafficking, and more. 

Want to join their team? Contact Candace Hurckman, candace@venture.org, 612-704-1394 

Partnering Charities

SAVE 

SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) aims to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide. 

Want to join their team? Contact Pete Thiesen, ptheisen@save.org  

Wildflyer Coffee 

Wildflyer Coffee has a mission to create employment opportunities for youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability through the cultivation of life skills and personal empowerment. 

Want to join their team? Contact Carley Kammerer, julia@wildflyercoffee.com, 917-439-5437 

Participating Charities

Achieving Cures Together 

Achieving Cures Together has a mission to save lives by advancing microbiome research. 

Want to join their team? Contact Christie Lansdowne, info@achievingcures.com, 763-259-5766 

ALS Association 

The ALS Association has a mission to discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest. 

Want to join their team? Contact John Cronin, john.cronin@als.org, 612-767-6264 

Be the Match Foundation 

Be the Match aims to save lives through cellular therapy. 

Want to join their team? Contact Angie Larson, alarson2@nmdp.org, 507-319-9315 

Crescent Cove 

Crescent Cove offers care and support to children and young adults with a shortened life-expectancy, and their families who love them. 

Want to join their team? Contact Jenny Floria, jenny.floria@crescentcove.org, 952-426-4711 

debra of America 

debra of America’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). 

Want to join their team? Contact Jason Kelly, jason@debra.org, 212-868-1573 

HopeKids 

HopeKids provides ongoing events, activities and a powerful, unique support community for families who have a child with cancer or some other life-threatening medical condition. They surround these remarkable children and their families with the message that hope is a powerful medicine. 

Want to join their team? Contact Josh Taylor, josh@hopekids.org, 800-319-5845 

Jack’s Basket 

Jack’s Basket celebrates babies with Down syndrome. They strive to ensure that every new and expectant parent is provided resources and avenues of support within the community. 

Want to join their team? Contact Carissa Carroll, info@jacksbasket.org, 651-456-8321 

Mental Health Minnesota 

Mental Health Minnesota works to advance mental health and well-being for all, increase access to mental health treatment and services, and provide education, resources and support across Minnesota. 

Want to join their team? Contact Shannah Mulvihill, shannahm@mentalhealthmn.org, 651-493-6634 

Mile in My Shoes 

Mile in My Shoes (MiMS) uses the power of running to bring people together from diverse backgrounds to build connections, boost wellness, spark social change, and center people traditionally excluded from running spaces. 

Want to join their team? Contact Sarah Stuhr, sarah@mileinmyshoes.mn   

Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans

Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) aims to end Veteran homelessness in Minnesota. 

Want to join their team? Contact Shaun Riffe, sriffe@mac-v.org, 612-249-7098 

National Multiple Sclerosis Society 

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society exists because there are people with MS. Their vision is a world free of MS. 

Want to join their team? Contact Shannon Feeney, shannon.feeney@nmss.org, 708-724-7811 

Team RWB 

Team Red, White & Blue aims to enrich veterans’ lives. 

Want to join their team? Contact Dan Zirbes, dan.zirbes@teamrwb.org, 612-385-3873 

Unite 2 Fight Paralysis 

Unite 2 Fight Paralysis unites and empowers the international spinal cord injury community to cure paralysis through advocacy, education, and support for research. 

Want to join their team? Contact Lucia Webb, luciawebb@u2fp.org, 888-564-2228 

Youth Frontiers 

Youth Frontiers has a mission to provide experiences that inspire character, civility, and community. 

Want to join their team? Contact Riley Moynihan, rmoynihan@youthfrontiers.org, 952-922-0352 

Contributing Charities

American Cancer Society 

American Cancer Society strives to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. 

Want to join their team? Contact Jessica Bloodgood, Jessica.bloodgood@cancer.org, 312-967-8107 

Angelman Syndrome Foundation 

Angelman Syndrome Foundation has a mission to advance the awareness and treatment of Angelman syndrome through education and information, research, and support for individuals with Angelman syndrome, their families and other concerned parties. 

Want to join their team? Contact Kitty Murphy, kmurphy@angelman.org, 630-978-4245 

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Breast Cancer Research Foundation aims to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. 

Want to join their team? Contact Christine Ward, cward@bcrf.org, 646-497-2638 

Children’s Minnesota 

Children’s Minnesota champions the health needs of children and families. They are committed to improving children’s health by providing the highest-quality, family-centered care, advanced through research and education. 

Want to join their team? Contact Lan Freitag, lan.Freitag@childrensmn.org, 952-992-5718 

EB Research Partnership 

EB Research Partnership has a mission to build a faster path to curing epidermolysis bullosa. 

Want to join their team? Contact Allison McGettigan, allison@ebresearch.org, 646-844-0902 

Firefighters for Healing

Firefighters for Healing supports burn survivor patients & helps firefighters and first responders pivot after a line of duty injury or medical diagnosis. 

Want to join their team? Contact Kelley Danielson, kelley.danielson@firefightersforhealing.org, 612-200-4821

George Floyd Global Memorial 

George Floyd Global Memorial is and will continue to be living a memorial that inspires all people to pursue justice. 

Want to join their team? Contact Jeanelle Austin, jeanelle@gfgmemorial.org, 612-900-2340 

Gilda’s Club Twin Cities 

Gilda’s Club Twin Cities strives to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. 

Want to join their team? Contact Brianna Garcia-Myers, Brianna.garcia-meyers@gildasclubtwincities.org, 652-767-7623 

Heal the Planet Together 

Heal the Planet Together has a mission to educate and empower humanity about the power of our daily choices and the huge impact these choices have on the health and wellbeing of the planet. 

Want to join their team? Contact Ayenza Matthews, ayenza@healtheplanet.com, 954-325-2020 

Lymphoma Research Foundation 

Lymphoma Research Foundation has a goal to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by disease. 

Want to join their team? Contact Fatima Hameed, fhameed@lymphoma.org, 347-920-8535 

National Brain Tumor Society 

National Brain Tumor Society unrelentingly invests in, mobilizes, and unites the brain tumor community to discover a cure, deliver effective treatments, and advocate for patients and caregivers. 

Want to join their team? Contact Nikki Margeson, endurance@braintumor.org, 617-237-1744 

Open Arms of Minnesota 

Open Arms of Minnesota nourishes their clients and builds community by providing food as medicine. 

Want to join their team? Contact Dana Kuehn, dana@openarmsmn.org, 612-677-2562 

Open Your Heart to the Hungry & Homeless 

Open Your Heart to the Hungry & Homeless believes that every Minnesota should be free from hunger and homelessness. They make an impact by partnering with those who serve people in need, growing donor engagement and increasing awareness. 

Want to join their team? Contact Jessica Mathias, jmathias@oyh.org, 612-338-5577 

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy 

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy fights to end Duchenne. They accelerate research, raise their voices to impact policy, demand optimal care for every single family, and strive to ensure access to approved therapies. 

Want to join their team? Contact Jamie Jones, jamie@parentprojectmd.org, 631-806-6918 

Project Purple 

Project Purple was created to raise awareness, support patients and families affected by the disease, and fund research efforts to defeat pancreatic cancer. 

Want to join their team? Contact Vin Kampf, vin@projectpurple.org, 203-714-6052 

QUEERSPACE Collective 

QUEERSPACE Collective creates space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to their true selves. 

Want to join their team? Contact Elizabeth Olson, elizabeth@queerspacecollective.org, 651-269-8381 

Ruff Start Rescue 

Ruff Start Rescue is dedicated to saving the lives of animals in need. They improve animal welfare in communities through adoption, education, and providing resources for people and pets. 

Want to join their team? Contact Brittany Murnan, Brittany.murnan@ruffstartrescue.org, 763-355-3981 

Special Olympics Minnesota 

Special Olympics Minnesota has a mission to create a new world of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities by providing year-round sports training and athletic competitions, inclusive healthcare programs, leadership and advocacy training, and inclusive school programs. 

Want to join their team? Contact Heather Fleetwood, heather.fleetwood@somn.org, 763-270-7143 

TEAM TO END AIDS (T2) 

TEAM TO END AIDS (T2) aims to improve the lives of those who are living with or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, by raising critical funds to support the programs of AIDS Foundation Chicago. 

Want to join their team? Contact Jonathan Harris, jharris@aidschicago.org, 312-334-0967 

VraniCURE 

VraniCURE has a mission to fund research for metastatic breast cancer while educating and bringing awareness to the disease.

Want to join their team? Contact Jacquelyn Vranicar, Jacquelyn_vranicar@yahoo.com, 952-913-5682 

TCM Community Partners

1K12M One Kidney, 12 Marathons 

In 2023, kidney donor athletes Matt Cavanuagh and Hilary Baude will take on the 1K12M challenge, completing 12 marathons within one year – shattering the misperception that kidney donation imposes physical limits on donors. The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on October 1 will be Matt & Hilary’s 8th marathon of the year!  

Matt Cavanaugh, m.cavanaugh@nkdo.org, 651-261-4436 

Girls on the Run Minnesota 

Girls on the Run Minnesota inspires girls in the 3rd to 5th grades to be joyful, healthy and confident by combining training for a 3.1 mile race with important lessons about body image, healthy living, friendship and more. It takes an entire community to empower young girls to live to their potential. 

Liz Gallardo, elizabeth.gallardo@gotrmn.org, 612-314-5114 

Minnesota Distance Elite 

Minnesota Distance Elite is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Distance Training Center is a coordinated effort to bring local resources together to improve post-collegiate American distance running and develop Olympians. It was formed in January 2001 and began selecting athletes - primarily from Minnesota and the Upper Midwest - in April of that year. The Minnesota Distance Elite Training Center builds on the state's long and proud history of producing talented runners and Olympians. 

Dave Smisek, djsmisek@msn.com, 651-208-5453