Sometimes all it takes to start a fire is a little spark. That's the thought behind the Governor's Cup road races, which are held annually on the second Saturday in June. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) presents the annual event in Helena to provide people with a fun and festive opportunity to celebrate the benefits of exercise and healthy lifestyle choices with their friends and neighbors.
The Governor’s Cup serves as the main fundraising event for The Caring Foundation of MontanaSM, with race registration fees going to the foundation. For nearly 50 years, the Governor’s Cup has sparked fires inside the bellies of numerous participants in the marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Marathon and Fun Run.
The Kids Marathon is a partnership with elementary schools to provide a fun training program at no cost. Kids in grades K-5 at participating schools participate in running and/or walking activities during a six-week training period and then run and/or walk a 1-mile lap Friday evening at the Governor’s Cup to become a Kid’s Marathon finisher.
Every Kid’s Marathon training program participant is rewarded with tokens for meeting goals and a T-shirt for completing the training program, free of charge. Those who participate in the final event will also earn a finisher’s medal.
More than 2,500 K-5 students participate in the event each year, with that number growing annually.
For more information or to register, visit the Governor’s Cup website. For questions, send an email to the race director.
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Governor's Cup can email volunteer coordinator Randi Heigh.
