Harwood Center Bear Crawl

The Harwood Center Bear Crawl is scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the Jones Pond Pavilion in Shelby Farms Park, located in Memphis, TN. This inaugural event is a fundraiser for the Harwood Center, a local non-profit that provides specialized ABA and Speech therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Memphis is a major cultural and economic hub with a population of approximately 630,000. The city's demographic profile is approximately 64% Black or African American, 24% White, 7% Hispanic or Latino, and 2% Asian. Proceeds from the race directly support the center’s mission to provide life-changing communication and behavioral resources to families throughout the Memphis community.

Race Day Experience and Awards

The event is hosted at the scenic Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Packet pickup begins at 1:00 PM at the Jones Pond Pavilion. Following the Kids Fun Run at 2:00 PM, the 5K Run/Walk kicks off at 2:30 PM. The Harwood Center emphasizes a "Hugs, Hope, Help" philosophy, and the event serves as a community partnership opportunity. Competitive runners can vie for overall male and female awards, Master 40+ titles, and top-three placements across seven age categories ranging from "14 & Under" to "66+."

Registration and Fundraising

Registration for the 5K is $28.74, while the Kids Run is free to encourage family participation. Children are encouraged to create fundraising teams to help the Harwood Center reach its $5,000 goal; currently, the community has raised $3,717.82 (74% of the goal). For those unable to attend in person, the "Ghost Runner" virtual option is available for $23.39 and includes an event shirt. Top donors like Delaney's Family and local businesses like Loflin Yard have contributed significantly to the early fundraising success.

Impact and Contact

The Bear Crawl is managed by Start 2 Finish Event Management. By participating, runners help the Harwood Center expand its outreach to underserved families in Memphis, ensuring that high-quality therapy remains accessible. The team-based fundraising model allows participants to share their individual progress with friends and family to amplify their impact. For technical questions or registration assistance, participants can contact the event management team via the official portal.