Guelph, ON – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph will hold its annual Big Little Run on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area. Participants can choose from a 5K walk/run, 10K run or a half‑marathon along a course that mixes paved trails, gravel roads and a crossing over the Guelph Lake dam.
Registration is expected to open in July 2026 on the official event page. Entry fees and participant fundraising will directly support the charity’s mentoring programs, which serve about 600–700 local youth in Guelph and surrounding communities.
The late‑September date marks a shift from previous June races and ties into Big Brothers Big Sisters Month in September, creating a grand finale for the awareness month. Executive Director Michael Treadgold says the event is a key fundraiser to reduce wait times for youth awaiting a mentor; as he has noted, “What we typically see is that the young boys in the community who are in need of a mentor tend to wait about twice as long as young girls.”
Local businesses and volunteer groups are encouraged to form teams, sponsor water stations or join the corporate challenge. Past editions drew about 300 participants (participant reviews and past reporting describe the race as a small event with roughly 300 runners), and organisers say they expect numbers to grow as community awareness increases.
Proceeds from the Big Little Run help fund one‑to‑one matches, group mentoring (Big Bunch) and in‑school programs across Guelph and surrounding communities, including Aberfoyle, Ariss, Eramosa, Morriston, Puslinch and Rockwood. More details and registration information will be available on the event page in July 2026.
