Run/Walk for the Rare! 2026

RUN/WALK FOR THE RARE! is a morning 10K, 5K, and 1-mile run/walk in Salem, Oregon, presented by Haley's Heroes Foundation. The event starts and finishes outside the Pavilion in the North Meadow, with a 10 a.m. start and a schedule that expects everyone back by early afternoon. It supports International Batten Disease Awareness Day and connects the race to the wider rare-disease community: one in 10 people have a rare disease, half of them are children, and more than 7,000 rare diseases have been identified. The day is built for runners, walkers, children, and supporters who want a short community event rather than a complicated race weekend. Entry includes a shirt, a photo booth, and a food coupon for corndogs and ice cream, which gives the finish area more of a family-fundraiser feel. The event also offers a virtual option for people who want to run or walk in their own neighborhood, on a trail, or on a treadmill while still receiving the official shirt. Its message is direct: an estimated 350 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, and most rare diseases still have no FDA-approved treatment or cure.