Participants, sponsors raise over $20,000 for Girls on the Run while taking on 5k, 10k and half-marathon routes

Runners, families, youths and everyone in between laced up their shoes Saturday morning and cruised along the Springwater Corridor Trail for a trio of distances all for a good cause.

The fourth annual Gresham Lilac Run, presented by Unitus Credit Union, made a return to in-person fun Saturday, May 7, as 500 runners gathered in Main City Park to take on a 5k, 10k and half-marathon courses. There also was 100 "Little Lilac" kids who ran 400 and 800 meter dashes.

The athletes cruised along the Springwater Corridor, Saddle Butte and Butler Creek Trails. There also were participants joining virtually in Washington and as far as Kentucky.

All of the race proceeds, which exceeded $20,000, was donated to Girls on the Run, a local nonprofit organization that works to get girls active and pursue their dreams.

Other sponsors who made the event possible were Migration Brewing, Konell Construction & Demolition Corp., Tailor Johnson with NextHome NW Realty, Rob Hendrickson and Juana Mendoza with State Farm, Tatu Protein Water, Country Coffee, Marathon Printing, Eastwind Running & Endurance and Bob's Red Mill.

If you missed out on the fun, the 2023 Lilac Run is already scheduled to take place Saturday, April 22, 2023. Registration will open by early fall. Learn more at GreshamOregon.gov/The-Gresham-Lilac-Run