Spokane Cancer Run Raises $350K, Sells Out 4,500 Spots

More than 4,500 people filled downtown Spokane streets Sunday morning, turning a cancer fundraiser into the city's most attended Boulevard Race yet.

The fourth annual 4-mile run sold out two days before race day, raising $350,000 for the Community Cancer Fund. The fund fills critical gaps in cancer care across the Inland Northwest, helping patients access services they couldn't otherwise afford.

This year's organizers dropped the entry fee to just $25, making it easier for the community to participate after devastating wildfires swept through the region. Jon Neill, the fund's executive director, wanted to bring people together and lower barriers to giving back.

"I think the $25 entry price played a significant role in attracting both those that have done it in the past and those that wanted to give it a shot," Neill said. The strategy worked beyond expectations.

The race started and ended near Gonzaga's campus, where live bands, cheerleaders, and vendors lined the route. Neill described the atmosphere as an "ultimate distraction" designed to energize runners through music and entertainment at every turn.

Tom Sahlberg ran the race with his wife Jo and son Tom. The 13-year Stage 4 cancer survivor has participated in every Boulevard Race since it started, calling himself an "OG" of the event.

"I really appreciate Jon Neill and team's support for cancer victims, survivors, research and prevention," Sahlberg said. He called this year's race the most organized and supportive yet.

The Ripple Effect

The Boulevard Race shows what happens when a community decides everyone deserves a chance to help. By cutting the entry fee in half, organizers didn't just make running more accessible. They multiplied the impact, turning a good cause into a movement that drew record crowds and raised life-changing money for cancer patients.

The donations keep coming in, proving that sometimes the best way to grow support is to make it easier for people to say yes.

Sunday's sellout race wasn't just about breaking records or raising the most money in four years. It was about a city showing up for neighbors facing the hardest fight of their lives.