During the 2022 academic year, two Community School of Davidson (CSD) freshmen had the idea of starting a family friendly fundraiser that combined eating and running while building school spirit. After taking a Sports in Society elective class and completing a unit about using sports to give back to the community, brothers Alex and Logan DuBois quickly recognized how fortunate they are to be able to play sports like football, soccer, golf, disc golf and track at CSD and how there might be an opportunity to use those sports to help locally.
The brothers recruited their friends Logan Cain and Owen Hamilton, all four soccer players, to help with the planning and a short time later the team shared the idea for “The Sweet Fun Run,” received school approval and added the date to the school calendar.
The following March 2023, more than 150 participants gathered with family and friends to run, walk and roll four laps around CSD’s Spartan Park track, detouring after each lap to eat a sponsor provided sweet treat (think mini-cupcakes, cookies and other baked goods spread across a long table) all to raise money to benefit athletes with special needs.
Participants begin together then move (and eat) at their own pace. The event is not a race and there are no awards given for performance or finishing times.
Founder, Logan DuBois, is a planner who enjoys bringing together the various parts of the event, including seeing the actual set up day.
“Actually, setting everything up in the morning,” Logan DuBois (‘25) said. “It’s not fun to wake up [early on a Saturday] but it’s fun to set up because you get to see all your hard work come together, and it feels good to see everything finally put together.”
The Sweet Fun Run benefits Speed for Need, an organization which has been raising awareness and fostering inclusion for special needs athletes since 2017. Speed for Need, supported by the men of F3 Nation, provides customized racing wheelchairs and pushers to Track Commanders (riders with a special need) in fitness events like 5k’s, 10k’s and marathons – experiences that they would not be able to have on their own.
In the first year of the Sweet Fun Run, the group raised almost $2,000.
The second annual event was a near sellout with 200 participants consuming nearly 1000 sweet treats. In 2024 the group raised nearly $2400.
Before the 2024 event, the four planners recruited good friend and classmate, Colby Thompson, to help. Together they turned “The Sweet Fun Run” into a school club (now with close to 50 members) so that way “The Sweet Fun Run” will continue even after the founding organizers graduate this year. The club meets regularly to teach underclassmen about event management, planning and giving back.
Senior organizer and club member, Logan Cain, talks about how much “The Sweet Fun Run” has changed.
“I remember when we first started talking about it we had the basic idea, and then bringing in a bunch of sponsors for treat donations was very cool because we could also build that community,” Logan Cain (‘25) said. “Our actual beneficiary has changed, as well. It has been pretty cool to see the event grow and develop.”
The 2025 event will have several new additions. Event planners have invited CSD teachers to participate in costume if certain fundraising goals are met. Others may choose to participate in costume or represent a school club or team either on their own or with a group. Before the event begins, there will be an Aurora Special Needs Winterguard performance. And participants can choose to learn about Speed for Need by trying a modified racing wheelchair.
Ultimately, “The Sweet Fun Run” is about building community and giving back.
Founder, Owen Hamilton, says his favorite part is actually seeing everyone walk in to the event and support it.
“It’s crazy to see because it was just a thought in our imaginations a few years ago,” Owen Hamilton (‘25) said.
Event Details
March 15, 2025
Spartan Park, 13828 Beatties Ford Rd, Huntersville, N.C., 28078
Gates Open: 9:00 A.M.
Aurora Special Needs Winter Guard performance at 9:45 A.M.
Event Begins: 10:00 A.M.
Event Ends: 12:00 P.M.
Visit – thesweetfunrun.com to register or make a donation.
2025 Sponsors Include (as of February 13, 2025)
Lake Norman children’s therapy
Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club
2025 Event Organized and Presented by CSD’s “Sweet Fun Run” Club
