Race Around the World for Education
When is Race Around the World for Education?
Race Around the World for Education takes place on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Saint Paul, MN.
Where is Race Around the World for Education held?
Race Around the World for Education is held in Saint Paul, MN at P.O. Box 22268.
About Race Around the World for Education
Join the Marketing Research Education Foundation (MREF) in the sixth annual Race Around the World and help us raise $65,000!
How does it work?
During the month of May, participants from all around the world will walk, run, and bike to raise money for a good cause. The race is entirely virtual – participants log their miles online, share photos of the fun, and track their progress on the leaderboard.
How do you join?
Signup is free, but we hope you'll consider a donation. You can sign up as an individual and join any team you like, or you can sponsor a team to boost our efforts even further. Let's all come together to motivate each other, build community, get moving and do some good!
Who can participate?
Anyone and everyone is welcome to join the race! While many participants hail from marketing research companies, we welcome participation from all realms. Invite your friends, family, neighbors – the more the merrier!
FAQs
Who can participate?
Anyone – the more the merrier. While the majority of participants hail from marketing research companies, we welcome all participants and their friends, families, partners, neighbors, etc.
Can I join any team?
You are welcome to join any team when you sign up. If your company is not sponsoring a team, please feel free to join Team MREF!
Will I have to verify my results?
No; the race operates on the honor system. We trust everyone to report responsibly!
How do I log miles?
- Once signed in, click your profile bubble on the top right of the menu and navigate to Profile.
- Find the Race Around the World box – on the righthand list of blue links, click Submit Virtual Results.
- If you need help troubleshooting or want to explore other logging options, visit this tutorial.
How do I upload photos?
- On the main menu, click Photos.
- Click Add Photos to Your Album.
- Click Upload Images and choose your photo(s).
- When you're finished selecting photos, click I'm Finished Uploading.
- If you are not able to upload photos, you could be missing your date of birth from the race registration. You must confirm that you are over 18 years of age to upload photos to the race website!
How do I download the customized digital bib so I can print it or share it on social media?
Click on your Profile, then select View Digital Bib. You can see an example of how to download it here.
Can I use my Fitbit or other device to log miles?
No; miles must be logged manually on the website.
The race has already started – is it too late to join?
We welcome all participation at any point in the race until May 31.
I forgot to log my miles for a couple days – do they still count?
They do! Simply change the date to the correct day when you submit your virtual results – you can choose a day that has already passed. You can log miles from multiple days at the same time.
How long after the race do I have to log my miles?
If participants miss some days, they will have until Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET to retroactively submit results. Remember – all race results are on the honor system!
What happens to proceeds from the race?
The 2026 Race Around the World for Education will focus on supporting the social and emotional learning of children by funding initiatives that strengthen mental health, build coping skills, and foster meaningful connections.
The grantees of the 2026 Race Around the World for Education fundraising initiative will be announced later in the Spring.
Where can I learn more about the MREF?
Visit the MREF website to learn more about our mission and other fundraising campaigns and events throughout the year!
Sponsor a Team
Rally your employees – sponsor a team!
We welcome your sponsorship of our 2026 race! All sponsors get a team, and you can invite your employees, clients, friends, and family to join your team in logging their walking, running, and biking miles. Participation for employees is free, though they can make a donation to the effort if they’d like. Together we hope to log 74,703 miles in support of children's education - three times around the circumference of Earth!
Contact Alana Gates at alana@mrgivesback.org to sign up and sponsor!
2026 Sponsor Levels
Trailblazer: $5,000
- Create company team and invite employees to participate
- Company logo on race website
- Company logo on MREF website
- Opportunity to be featured in race PR
- Prominent position in thank you ad to run in Quirk’s Magazine following the race
- Profile in MREF newsletter
Navigator: $2,500
- Create company team and invite employees to participate
- Company logo on race website
- Company logo on MREF website
- Opportunity to be featured in race PR
- Inclusion in thank you ad to run in Quirk’s Magazine following the race
Sprinter: $1,000
- Create company team and invite employees to participate
- Company logo on race website
- Company logo on MREF website
- Inclusion in thank you ad to run in Quirk’s Magazine following the race
Pacer: $500
- Create company team and invite employees to participate
- Company logo on race website
- Company logo on MREF website