Run for a Reason

April 23-25, 2027

“It felt really cool to be part of the Eugene community.”
 For CSS clients, participating in the Eugene Marathon 5K is about more than running—it is an opportunity to belong, connect,

and be part of the community they call home.
— Anna, CSS Staff

Support your unhoused neighbors while participating in the Eugene Marathon! Choose the marathon, half marathon, or 5K and join the CSS team through Eugene Marathon’s Run for a Reason program. Instead of paying the registration fee, commit to raising the fundraising goal listed below. Once you reach your goal, we’ll send you a registration code to join the CSS team for no additional cost.

Your efforts will support Community Supported Shelters’ work to provide services & shelter to people experiencing homelessness.

Step 1: Register

Complete the form below to let us know you've decided to join the team.


The deadline to join CSS is February 1st, or when the Eugene Marathon runs out of spots - whichever comes first.

Step 2: Raise at least the minimum for your race

Raise money for CSS by having your friends and family donate! Start your fundraiser with Give Lively or Facebook Fundraiser. The deadline for the minimum donation is March 9th, but you can keep fundraising until April 28th.

$500 = Marathon
$350 = Half Marathon

$150 = 5K

Step 3: Get the code

Hit your fundraising goal, and we’ll email you within two business days with everything you need to register for your race on the Eugene Marathon site for free!

Register for Team CSS

Sponsor an Unhoused Individual to Run

Unhoused community members typically feel more invisible than ever during Eugene's annual national running event. To make the event accessible to more people, each year CSS arranges for  a group of clients to participate in the Eugene Marathon 5K.


You can support us in making it happen! Your help empowers unhoused individuals to build a sense of community and fosters a more inclusive Eugene. Sponsor an unhoused individual to run for $150. (Your donation is tax-deductible!)


Anna, CSS staff, shares: "I've walked in the Eugene Marathon 5K for the past two years, and it has been one of the most delightful ways of connecting to the city of Eugene and our clients that I've experienced in my time at CSS. To pick our clients up at 6 am for the race, tailgate with Voodoo doughnuts and orange juice before walking to the starting line, being cheered on by neighborhoods and volunteers along the race route, finishing inside the amazing Hayward Field, and receiving a medal for completing the race--there's no better recipe for giving folks a renewed sense of pride and community belonging than that!"


Sammy, a client who ran in a previous year, shares: “I enjoyed the 5K. The running, it being in the morning, a kinda rainy day that day—perfect for running. It’s a great event to join if you’re fit enough for it.”
Sponsor a Runner

About CSS

Established in 2013, Community Supported Shelters (CSS) is a Eugene nonprofit dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness build pathways to housing and stability. Our low-barrier shelters are just the beginning—we pair safe shelter with housing navigation, workforce development, health and wellness support, and other services that help people build the skills, connections, and stability needed to move forward.


If you're local, you've probably seen our (frankly amazing) Conestoga Hut shelters around town!

Have questions?

Email community@cssoregon.org.