September 19, 2026
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT
Bolton 5K Will Pause for 2026 and Return in 2027
Dear Bolton Community, Friends, and Supporters,
It is with heavy hearts that the Bolton Community Fund shares that the Bolton 5K will not be held in 2026.
For our Board, volunteers, and everyone who has helped make this event possible over the years, this is an incredibly difficult announcement to make. The Bolton 5K is much more than a race on the calendar. It is a tradition rooted in the strength, generosity, and compassion of our community, and we are truly heartbroken that we will not be able to gather for it this year.
A Tradition Born from Community
The Bolton 5K began in 2013 following the Boston Marathon bombings, when Bolton residents Bill, Mary Jo White and their son, Kevin, were seriously injured. In response, friends, neighbors, and community members came together to organize what was originally intended to be a one-time road race to support the White family. That first event raised approximately $30,000 and showed the extraordinary strength and generosity of the Bolton community.
That first event became about much more than fundraising. It showed what Bolton does best: we come together, we take care of one another, and we find ways to turn difficult moments into something meaningful fun & wonderful.
The following year, the White family helped carry that same generosity forward by supporting a new beneficiary, and with all of your help we've done this every year since 2013, the Bolton 5K has brought runners, walkers, families, volunteers, local organizations, sponsors, and neighbors together around a simple purpose: neighbors helping neighbors.
A Difficult Decision for 2026
Unfortunately, this year the 5k board has been unable to fulfill some of the volunteer staffing necessary to safely and successfully host the Bolton 5K. We did not come to this decision easily.
We remained hopeful that we could find a path forward, which is why this difficult announcement comes later than we would have liked. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have exhausted all of the possible options available to us. We are unable to move forward with the 2026 event.
This is a pause. It is not goodbye.
SAVE THE DATE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2027
The Bolton 5K returns - and we plan to make it our biggest community event yet.
The Bolton 5K Will Return in 2027
We are already looking ahead, and we could not be more excited about what comes next. Our goal is to make the Bolton 5K 2027 our biggest event yet.
Help Us Bring the Bolton 5K Back
If you have ever thought about getting involved with the Bolton Community Fund, now is a wonderful time to join us.
• Volunteer for the Bolton 5K 2027 - Help us build the team that will make next year's event possible.
• Become a Bolton Community Fund volunteer - Most ongoing volunteer needs average approximately 1-5 hours per month, with additional opportunities surrounding events.
• Make a donation - Support the Fund's work in our community at boltoncommunityfund.org.
If you are interested in volunteering, would like to assist with planning the 2027 event, or have any questions or concerns, please contact the Bolton Community Fund Board of Directors at board@boltoncommunityfund.org.
Thank You, Bolton
To everyone who has run, walked, volunteered, donated, sponsored, cheered from the sidelines, or simply showed up over the years: thank you.
We also want to extend a very special thank you to Eric Schartner and Schartner Farms for their continued generosity and for always being willing to welcome and host the Bolton 5K. Their support has helped provide a home for this community tradition, and we are incredibly grateful for their partnership year after year.
We encourage our community to continue supporting Schartner Farms, located at 279 West Berlin Road in Bolton, and to check out everything they have to offer at schartnerfarm1902.com.
Thank you for your understanding, your continued support, and most importantly, for continuing to show what it means to be a community that takes care of one another.
Yours in Partnership,
The Bolton Community Fund
