The mission of Treasure State Runners is to fundraise through footrace events in the Helena area for nonprofits who foster the importance and pursuit of physical, mental and emotional health.
We are the Treasure State Runners (TSR), a newly founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of four local Montana women and running partners, dedicated to supporting the Helena community and sharing our love of running. What began as a fun run among friends during COVID has grown into something much bigger. We want to take our love of Montana, local organizations, and of course, our love of running to the next level. Through our nonprofit, we aim to help charities who champion women, children, and the importance of healthy relationships, healthy bodies, and healthy minds. Our goal is to embrace our passion and do something exceptional with it.
In October of 2022, we launched Just for the Helena of It. Our first event included both a Half Marathon and 5K race to benefit The Friendship Center (TFC). All profits from our event were donated to them in recognition of their work while also recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “The mission of The Friendship Center is to be a safe haven for those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Center seeks to empower our community to flourish in relationships free from violence. All services are free and confidential, and they serve all victims and survivors – including men, women, and children of all ages.”
Treasure State Runners envisions Just for the Helena of It as an annual event for the Helena community to look forward to each year. Paired with our desire to support a healthy lifestyle, we feel this race can become something truly incredible while also bringing awareness to local nonprofits who empower and support women and children. These organizations deserve to be seen and supported. Treasure State Runners’ hope is to be able to host several events each year to bring awareness and raise money for beneficiaries that provide services to our local women and children, who desperately need the help these organizations provide.
As Just for the Helena of It continues to grow, our goals will grow as well. Our inaugural year empowered us to do more. We were strongly supported by our local community as well as thrilled by the interest we received nationally. With over 300 registered runners from 13 states, our 2022 event raised $17,000 for The Friendship Center!
After reflecting on such a successful first year, and knowing we started with just an idea and a strong passion, we are excited to see what we can accomplish now that we have established our event. We know we can count on support from returning runners, sponsors, and volunteers. We are excited to see Just for the Helena of It grow in size and scope.