Run for a Reason 2026

Move your body against Childhood Cancer this September –
Run, walk, cycle, swim, dance, or hike, however and wherever you like

Theme: Christmas in September – More than a season. It’s a REASON.
Dates: 1–30 September 2026
Location: Virtual fitness event
What you get: Entry for R360, including a pair of limited edition 2026 Run for a Reason Christmas socks

Pull on your socks, jingle those bells, and get ready; this month, we’re moving with heart.
Run for a Reason is back, and this year we’re sprinkling in a little Christmas magic. 

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. All month long, Rainbows and Smiles brings together an incredible community of people who move, share stories, and raise awareness for children with cancer, and the families walking beside them.

And here’s the best part:
No set distance, no set activity, no pressure.

Run. Walk. Swim. Cycle. Paddle. Hike. Dance. Ski. Walk the dog. Climb a tree. Heck, hoover the house and count your steps; we won’t judge.
However you choose to move (yes, even the hoovering), you can Run for a Reason.

How does it work?

For the first 29 days of September, we share the story of a child currently fighting cancer, or a childhood cancer survivor, and their family’s journey.
That child becomes our reason for the day.

You write their name on your hand. You do your thing: run, walk, dance, whatever moves you. Then you snap a photo, post it, and add a message of encouragement.
Share it on the post of the day on the Rainbows and Smiles page, on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads or LinkedIn. Rather run or ride than post? Join our Strava group and log it there too.

And this is where something truly special happens.
That child and their family see your photo. They read your words. They see their child’s name being carried by people they’ve never met, people who showed up for them anyway. That kind of support tells a family: *you are not alone in this.*

Every photo, every story, every share, it all builds awareness, one name at a time.
One child, one family, one story, one day at a time.

30 September: Our Day of Remembrance

On the final day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we come together to remember.
We honour the children who lost their fight, the families who carry them every single day, and the names we will never let be forgotten.

29 days, 29 children, 29 family journeys.
One final day to remember them all.

Christmas in September

This year, we’re bringing festive fun into the mix with our Christmas in September theme!
Add a festive touch to your walk, wear your Run for a Reason socks with pride, or simply join us in whatever way works for you.

Because Run for a Reason is more than a season. It’s a REASON.

What do I get for my R360 entry?

1. A pair of our limited edition 2026 Run for a Reason Christmas socks
2. Entry into our month-long virtual event
3. A place in an extraordinary community showing up for kids with cancer and their families
4. But more than anything, your entry helps us tell 29 stories that deserve to be heard, and lets 29 families know they are not walking this road alone.

Do I have to participate every day?

Not at all.
Join daily, weekly, on weekends, or whenever you can. No minimum kilometres, no step count to hit, no “right” way to do it.
You don’t have to be a runner. Honestly, you don’t even have to be coordinated. You just need a reason.

Why do we Run for a Reason?

Because behind every childhood cancer diagnosis is a child with a name, a laugh, a favourite toy, a family who loves them fiercely.
Because awareness matters.
Because one message of encouragement can mean more to a family than you will ever know.
Because a name written on your hand can remind a whole family that they are seen.

This September, be someone’s reason.