Partner Spotlight: Supporting Healthy Relationships, Bodies, and Minds Through Running
Updated: Sep 30
Treasures State Runners Board (left to right: Jo Hawkins, Sidney Wilder, Kathleen Koford, Dallas Burke)
Kathleen Koford discusses Just for the Helena of It’s success and growth through the years, and the vision of Treasure State Runners to continue expanding its support of the community through their love of running.
Originally published in October 2024, we're bringing this past partner spotlight back to the top of our blog feed ahead of this year’s Just for the Helena of It! Now in its fifth year, this day of races and irrepressibly good vibes has become a beloved October tradition here in Helena and a marquee fall race in Montana, drawing hundreds of walkers and runners from dozens of states (and a few Canadian provinces!) to our community and raising thousands of dollars for local nonprofits in the process. Over its first four years, Just for the Helena of It has helped raise over $121,000 for its beneficiaries, including $110,000 for The Friendship Center’s services and education efforts.
Launching a new race of any size is a monumental task. Creating one as successful as Just for the Helena of It has been, and in just a few years? Suffice to say, it’s a huge achievement, made all the more impressive by the impact it’s had for both The Friendship Center and Girls Thrive—the two Helena nonprofits that all event proceeds support. The nonprofit behind Just for the Helena of It, Treasure State Runners, brought this event to life in 2022 and what they’ve built year over year is nothing short of impressive.
Back in 2024, we invited Treasure State Runners Vice President and co-founder Kathleen Koford to respond to a few of our questions about their journey to that point and some of the nonprofit’s future aspirations going into what was year three of Just for the Helena of It. To give you a sense of the team’s track record for quickly making their visions a reality, one of the goals Kathleen mentioned two years ago—the addition of a kids fun run—is already in place with what will be the inaugural kids mini mile at this year’s event!
Like the entire Treasure State Runners crew, Kathleen wears many hats, serving as both Vice President and Fundraising and Volunteer Director. Kathleen is instrumental in securing the support and community partnerships necessary to maximize the proceeds that go directly to race beneficiaries. She also handles the monumental task of orchestrating the 120+ volunteers needed to pull this event off each year. We hope you enjoy learning a little bit about the passionate folks behind the whole Just for the Helena of It production and maybe feel inspired to join us for the fifth iteration this October 18—whether it’s to run/walk any of the races, cheer on your friends, volunteer to help make this event a success, or join us at the finish-line party to celebrate!
You and all the Treasure State Runners folks have run in your fair share of races, but before Just for the Helena of It was even an idea, did you ever think you would organize a race? How many years in the making was the first race in 2022?
KK: I don’t think any of us initially imagined being race directors. The race started very organically. It seemed like each decision that led to creating the nonprofit Treasure State Runners, and jumpstarting Just for the Helena of It, was the natural next step.
All of us are passionate runners, so when we set out to make the race we approached the event as a race “for runners, by runners.” We took all of our cumulative running experience and tried to apply that knowledge. Incredibly, there was only about 16 months between the very first conversation about hosting an event for charity and the first Just for the Helena of It race in 2022.
Did the inspiration to create a new race in Helena come before the desire to support local causes? Or was supporting the community the main motivation to build a race from the ground up?
KK: I feel like the desire to support our local community and the inclination to organize a race were too intertwined for me to say which came first. I don’t think we would have had the desire to organize a race unless we were going to use it as a platform to fundraise for a local nonprofit. However, if we were going to organize some form of a fundraising event, our collective passion for running made creating the race a natural choice. The two concepts go very hand in hand for us.
In its first two years, Just for the Helena of It raised over $40,000 for The Friendship Center. You all certainly have goals you want to hit every year for your beneficiaries, but has the impact of the race been a surprise to you? (Editor's note: As mentioned in the intro, Just for the Helena of It has since raised over $110,000 for TFC!)
KK: It has. Watching the race grow has been truly incredible. Our goal is to create a sustainable event so we can continue to fundraise for our beneficiaries for years to come. The race organizers in Montana have been an invaluable support, and the mutual willingness to support each other's running events across the state has been fantastic.
My favorite moments are when we get to hear how our race has impacted individuals. A young girl ran our 5k and discovered a love of running and now runs cross country. Walkers who never dreamed of doing more than a 5k are now running the half-marathon. We hear survivor testimonials from people who have benefited from The Friendship Center’s services. There are volunteers who have friends and family impacted by domestic violence who are so excited to volunteer for an event that supports local women and children. Those are the connections and moments I find most impactful.
Speaking of beneficiaries, you all have added one this year! Where did the Treasure State Runners crew first get connected with Girls Thrive? What impressed you about them and when did you know that you wanted to support them in a bigger way through the race?
KK: I became aware of Girls Thrive and their mission through a mutual acquaintance. We immediately identified with this small, grassroots nonprofit whose goal is to empower local young women, promote an active lifestyle, and build confidence and community. We initially got involved as guest coaches during their running sessions. Girls Thrive’s mission aligned so well with our own that we immediately felt strongly about supporting them and the programs they provide.
It sounds like running friend/family connections were what brought you and the founders of Treasure State Runners together initially, and within that core group, there’s a family connection to the team here at The Friendship Center. Because of that, you probably knew more than most about our work, but is there anything you’ve learned about our staff or our mission that has really stood out as this partnership has grown?
KK: It has been eye-opening to learn more about The Friendship Center. The work and services you provide are so important and life-changing. Domestic violence, sexual abuse, and stalking are not easy things to talk about, and providing a platform that makes victims aware of the help and support that you offer has been a privilege. Every member of The Friendship Center’s team cares so much about the people they serve and their dedication to help each one of their clients to the very best of their ability has been incredible to witness.
Organizing a race is a monumental task, and we’re sure every year brings different challenges and lessons, but also memories and rewards. Whether it’s related to the community response, basic logistics, or working with your fellow race directors, what have been the biggest takeaways for you from the past few years as this event has grown and evolved? What are you most proud of?
KK: The support offered by the Helena community has been truly amazing. When we started organizing the first Just for the Helena of It race in 2022, we were learning as we went. Many of the businesses and individuals we approached that first year for financial sponsorship, donations, and volunteering had some kind of personal connection to Treasure State Runners. It showed a great deal of trust that they were willing to take a risk on us and our vision of what this race could become. Support has only grown since that first year, and I am continually in awe and extremely proud of the generosity of the Helena community.
As kind of the “looking ahead” version of the previous question: What are some of your hopes and intentions for future years of Just for the Helena of It?
KK: I would love to see this race grow in size and scope. Some of our long-term goals are to add a kids fun run as well as the full marathon to the event. Our half-marathon is now nationally certified, and it would be amazing to have participants from all 50 states. As this event grows, so will the donations that we are able to give to our beneficiaries. I am excited to reach the point, many years from now, where we have been able to give over $500,000 back to our community. Given the immense amount of love and support we have received, I hope we can continue to grow at Treasure State Runners and organize multiple races in the future.
The Friendship Center partners with many organizations, agencies, businesses, and individual supporters to ensure everyone in our community is supported with care and dignity. We regularly highlight some of the fantastic people and organizations that we partner and collaborate with for our blog. Sign up for our email newsletter to make sure you don't miss a partner spotlight and learn more about some of the services available in our community.
Comments