The Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K: A Race to Cure ALS

Step Up to Cure ALS! Join us on Saturday, June 13th in Hopkinton, MA for a 5K race, kids' color run, tot trot, and family fun day with something for everyone! (Virtual option available for the 5K).  Net proceeds support The Angel Fund for ALS Research, an independent, non-profit charity, benefiting ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) research at UMass Chan Medical School. 

Timeline
8:30am: 5K Race & Family Fun Day Start

9:30am: Timlin Tot Trot Starts

10:00am: Kids' Color Run Starts and 5K Awards Ceremony

11:00am: Raffle Ends

12:00pm: Event Ends

Step Up to Cure ALS! Runners and walkers are welcome for this fun 5K race starting and finishing at the Hopkinton High School/Middle School grounds in Hopkinton, MA. Net proceeds support The Angel Fund for ALS Research, an independent, non-profit charity, benefiting ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) research at UMass Chan Medical School. 

Saturday, June 13, 2026

8:30am Race Starts

 

Pre-Race Packet Pickup: Avoid the race day stress and pick up your bib number and t-shirt BEFORE the race:

Thursday, June 11th, 12:00-6:00pm (PR Running, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA)

Friday, June 12th, 12:00-6:00pm (Price Chopper, 167 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA)

Kids' Run t-shirts, bandanas, and sunglasses can also be picked up at these locations.

 

Race Day Packet Pickup;

5K bibs and t-shirts can be picked up from 7:15-8:20am behind Hopkinton High School, 90 Hayden Rowe Street.

Kids' Color Run t-shirts, bandanas, and sunglasses can be picked up at the same location until 9:45am.

 

$40 Race Fee (until 5/29/26 when price increases to $45) includes:

• Commemorative t-shirt. 
• Fully supported USATF certified 5K race course with timed mile markers.
• Post Race snacks
• Family Fun Day welcome to all!

 

View Course here.

 

5K Race Award Categories

• Top 3 overall male and female finishers
• Top age group finishers: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79
• Top age group finishers: Male/Female 80+, Wheelchair Division
  No duplicate awards

5K Training Program (Pending)

Our friends at the Hopkinton Running Club provide a popular program designed to train anyone who has ever wanted to run a 5K road race. The target race for this training program is the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K! In-person training begins on Sunday, April 4th and is held weekly from 8 to 9 am for 10 weeks. 

The cost of the program is $50 per person and includes weekly in-person training sessions, access to their running coach, a t-shirt for the first 75 people to sign up, and a membership to the Hopkinton Running Club.

If you have any questions, you can learn more here

A MESSAGE FROM MIKE AND DAWN TIMLIN
“During the course of our mom’s illness, we learned that there is no effective treatment or cure for ALS. After watching her suffer through the awful progression of this fatal disease, we vowed to eradicate ALS so that others would never have to endure such an experience. Our mission is to raise public awareness regarding ALS and, more important, to finance critical research being conducted at the Cecil B. Day Laboratory for Neuromuscular Research at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, under the direction of world renowned ALS expert Dr. Robert H. Brown. The Sharon Timlin Memorial Event a Race to Cure ALS is a major ALS fundraiser with over 3000 participants. More than $2 million has been raised toward research for a cure from this event. We believe that with proper funding, science will make a treatment, if not a cure, a reality sooner rather than later.”

– Mike and Dawn Timlin

 

ABOUT SHARON TIMLIN
Born in Abilene, Texas in 1941, Sharon Timlin was the loving and devoted mother of MLB Pitcher Mike Timlin of the 2004 & 2007 World Championship Boston Red Sox and his three sisters, Jeri Lynn, Tracy and Sherri, as well as the grandmother of nine. Diagnosed with ALS in May 2001, Sharon succumbed to the disease in March 2002. Her life of devotion, faith, love and generosity, and her courage in the face of ALS, has inspired her family to do what they can to raise awareness, contribute to research and provide solace to those facing ALS. Mike Timlin and his wife, Dawn, have pledged to do all they can to help the mission of the Angel Fund, an independent non-profit charity benefiting ALS research at the at University of Massachusetts Hospital.

 

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

We are a dedicated team, who strives to bring people each year to promote good will and raise critical funds for ALS research. If you have any questions/comments, please email us at run4als@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

Abbie Rosenberg: Founder and CFO

Ann Hadley: Event Manager, Sponsorships & PR

Jennifer Blake: Volunteer Manager

Stephanie Whelan: 5K Manager

Bob Levenson: Course Manager and Permitting

Kristen Stoddard: Registration Coordinator 

Dawn Timlin: Sponsorships & Kids' Color Run Co-Manager

Mark Smolinsky: Timlin Tot Trot Manager

Laura McKenzie: Kids' Color Run Co-Manager

Jon Schwartz: Field/Family Fun Day Manager

John Smolinsky: Field/Family Fund Day

Andrea Wilk: Field/Family Fun Day Coordinator

Anna Lydon: Food Manager

Mike Pucci: Parking Manager

Pam LeBlanc: Raffle Manager

Maggie Morrissey: Raffle Coordinator

Elaine Alden: Raffle Coordinator

 

DEAR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY
Thank you for joining us in our “race” to cure the devastating disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We are passionate about finding a cure for ALS, with 100% of the funds raised from this event going to the Cecil B. Day Laboratory at UMass Chan Medical School, where worldwide groundbreaking research is being done daily.

Unfortunately, we know too well that ALS is an insidious and unfair disease. ALS is a progressive and eventually fatal illness with no known cure or effective treatment. ALS is particularly cruel because victims are aware of their fate as they gradually lose the ability to control their muscles, to communicate, and eventually to breathe.

In 2004, we held the first Sharon Timlin Memorial Event, a Race to Cure ALS. Thanks to our many generous contributors, the event was a huge success and we raised over $60,000 in that first year. Fast forward 19 years and collectively, we have raised over $2 million!

Sharon Timlin, mother of Mike Timlin, a retired pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, succumbed to ALS in 2002. This event was organized by an all volunteer team in her memory and to benefit all who suffer from this disease. In 2003, our dear friend and one of our organizers was also diagnosed with ALS, George Mazareas, providing even more urgency to our fundraising efforts.

The past few years have seen tremendous achievements in the fight to cure ALS and you can read about these updates from Dr. Robert Brown himself, here. However, ALS remains a significantly under-funded disease and the efforts of events like ours are essential. We look forward to the day when a cure is found for ALS and we no longer have to ask for support. In the meantime, we appreciate your support. Drop us a note and tell us what you think at run4als@gmail.com.

Our warmest wishes,

The Sharon Timlin Memorial Event Leadership Team

THANK YOU LETTER FROM DR. ROBERT H. BROWN JR., D. PHIL., M.D.
On behalf of all of us on the ALS research team at UMass Chan Medical School, our heartfelt thanks for your continued, extraordinary support of our ALS research projects. Your generosity has facilitated some of the most innovative work we do, and has accelerated our efforts to develop human clinical trials in ALS.

It can truly be said that there has been meaningful progress in the quest to find treatments for ALS. Much has been accomplished in understanding the basic biology of this disease. See message and research update from Dr. Brown

In the Angel Fund ALS research program, new methods of gene analysis are defining critical events that trigger motor neuron pathology, both in mouse models of ALS and in humans. At multiple laboratories, including those at UMass Chan Medical School (UMCMS), fresh insights into the role of non-neuronal cells have emerged, implicating specific pathways of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.

A consortium of investigators, including the UMCMS team, has conducted a study of nearly 30,000 ALS cases and more then 120,000 controls that identified multiple new genetic risk factors for ALS. The search for biomarkers that indicate ALS disease activity has also advanced across multiple centers this year.

At UMCMS, investigators funded by the Angel Fund, have developed a new type of physiological biomarker for motor neurons that we anticipate could have wide application across many motor neurons diseases. And therapeutic advances have continued. In the last three years, the UMCMS team has done 3 first-in-human trials of biological therapies for familial ALS.

One, as recently reported, relied on extensive Angel Fund support to document that it is possible to suppress the C9orf72 gene in a human. An expanded trial to silence the C9orf72 gene is being planned.

More generally, the UMCMS clinical trials team has participated in multicenter trials. One study sponsored by the Cambridge company Amylyx showed benefit in slowing disease course and increasing survival in ALS; hopefully, this will be approved by the FDA for widespread use. And there are numerous exciting studies either in clinical trials or in the preclinical pipeline.

As we continue into 2026, we anticipate even more momentum in ALS investigations, confident that there will be sustained progress in the development of meaningful ALS therapies.

Let me again tell you how grateful we are for your support of our ALS investigations. It is not an exaggeration to say that the generous funding raised by the Timlin Race has profoundly benefited ALS research and brought the whole field closer to a cure for ALS. We look forward to seeing you on race day!

You see and listen to some of the researchers and their updates by clicking here.

Sincerely,

Robert H. Brown, Jr., D.Phil., M.D.
The Leo P. and Theresa M. LaChance Chair in Medical Research and professor of neurology
UMass Chan Medical School
55 Lake Avenue, North
Worcester, MA 01655

Family Fun Day celebrates the spirit of community and truly has something for everyone!   

Timeline
8:30am: 5K Race Starts & Family Fun Day* Begins!

9:30am - Tot Trot Begins
10:00am: Kids' Color Run Starts

10:15am: 5K Awards Ceremony
10:30am: Raffle & Silent Auction End

10:45-11:00am: Raffle & Silent Auction Winners Announced 
12:00pm: Event Ends

*There is no entry fee for the Family Fun Day. In the spirit of community and our efforts to support the research to find a cure for ALS, there will be donation buckets around the field. We ask that as you and your family enjoy this day, please make a donation on behalf of ALS research. One Hundred Percent of your donations and contributions go directly to the Angel Fund for ALS Research, which is world renowned in its research to combat and find a cure for ALS. Thank you!

The 2026 fun day includes:

• Great Food 
• Music from DJ Ken Babin
• Meet and Greet/Autographs with Mike Timlin, Mike Myers and other Red Sox players from the 2004 Championship team!
• Awesome Raffle & Silent Auction Items
• Bounce Houses (Ages 8 and under)
• Crafts 
• KidStrong (Obstacle Course & Face Painting)

       

       

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need to pre-register?
Yes! We allow day-of-race registration for the 5K if participant limit of 1,500 is not reached. Pre-registration is highly encouraged – and must be done before 11:59 pm on June 12, 2026. If participant limit is reached prior to June 13th, registration will close. Your best bet is to register early! 

Is there a limit to the number of participants?
The 5K is limited to 1,500 participants.

I can’t remember if I registered. Can you check for me?
Please take advantage of RunSignUp’s services to confirm that you’re registered. If you spot an error in your entry, please contact us at run4als@gmail.com.

How do I get to the race?
The race is held at Hopkinton High School, 90 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748. Race volunteers will direct you to parking areas.

Is parking available?
Yes. However, due to the size of the event, we expect parking to be limited. We encourage carpooling and advise you to arrive early. We have satellite parking lots, which could involve walking as much as ½ mile to the starting line. You may also park on side streets off Hayden Rowe Street and Grove Street. Please make sure to allow enough time to park, register, and warm up, if you are planning to run the race. 

Will I get a t-shirt or a medal?
All Kids’ Color Run participants receive white t-shirts, sunglasses, and a bandanna. All Tot Trot participants receive a finisher's medal.

T-shirts will be given to the first 500 registrants, T-shirts (and other apparel and merchandise) can also be purchased through a link on our website or at our online store.

How do I pick up my race bib?
There are 3 options for picking up your race bib: 

Pre-race Packet Pickup:

Thursday, June 11th from 12:00-6:00pm at PR Running, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA.

Friday, June 12th from 12:00-6:00pm at Price Chopper, 167 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA.

Race Day Packet Pickup:

Saturday, June 13th behind Hopkinton High School, 90 Hayden Rowe St., from 7:15-8:20am

Can I pre-register my child for the Kids’ Color Run?
Yes. The maximum number of participants is 120. We encourage you to register early! We will allow race day registration if the maximum number of 120 has not been reached.

Can I pre-register my child for the Timlin Tot Trot?
The maximum number of participants is 200. We encourage you to register early! We will allow race day registration if the maximum number of 200 has not been reached.

Will the race provide me my net time?
Yes, we will be using a starting mat, which ensures net timing. In addition, we are using the B-Tag system to expedite the timing and results process. The B-Tag is affixed to your race bib and does not need to be returned.

Can I attend the Family Fun Day if I’m not running in the race?
The Family Fun Day is open to all. While we do not charge a set fee to attend the Family Fun Day events, we encourage and appreciate donations to The Angel Fund.

Can I push a baby jogger in the race?
Our official answer is no due to safety concerns. Because the race is a USATF-NE sanctioned event, baby joggers, bicycles, inline skates, etc. are not permitted. That said, we are a family-friendly event and want to be welcoming to participants pushing baby joggers. For safety reasons, we require people with baby joggers to start at the back of the pack and be extremely cautious throughout the race.

Are dogs allowed at the event?
While we love dogs, they are not permitted at our event. The Hopkinton Public Schools, like many school districts, do not allow dogs on school property for health reasons. In addition, due to the size of our race, dogs pose a potential safety hazard to runners and walkers on the course.

Can I walk in the race?
Yes, walkers are welcome to participate!

What happens if there is inclement weather?
The races are held rain or shine. The Family Fun Day, the awards ceremony, and all post-race activities will be held indoors if necessary.

What if I register and cannot attend?
There are no refunds. In addition, medals cannot be held for registered runners/walkers who are unable to participate (nor can t-shirts, sunglasses, and bandanas be held for Kids' Run registrants). Bib numbers are also non-transferable, so please don’t sell or give your number to someone as it may interfere with age group results.

Can I volunteer for the race?
Yes! Many hands are needed to pull off this event. Different volunteer opportunities are available starting days before the race or during the event. There are many opportunities to volunteer. Please visit our Volunteer page and submit your information on the contact form there.

I volunteered for the race. When will I receive my volunteer assignment?
Volunteer assignments will be sent via email on the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding race day. If you do not receive your volunteer assignment by Wednesday, June 11th, please email us at run4als@gmail.com.

How can I donate or raise money?
We have created a fun and easy way to raise money or donate. Anyone can set up a fundraising page during registration or directly on our donation page. All donations benefit The Angel Fund, whose mission is to support research and scientific investigations at UMass Chan Medical School, which is internationally recognized for its ground-breaking work in the fight against this devastating illness. Visit our fundraising page for more details.

How do I train for my first 5K?
Many 5K training plans for beginners can be found online. Hal Higdon, a respected running expert and coach, has a training plan on his website. Or visit Runner’s World for their training plans.

Step Up to Cure ALS!

Our passionate online fundraisers raise more than $50,000 each year, and have played a huge role over the years, building the culture of the event and helping us raise over $2 million.

There is no minimum fundraising amount and every dollar donated goes directly to The Angel Fund for ALS Research (Angel Fund, Inc.) is an independent non-profit charity (04-3478977) dedicated to supporting ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) investigations at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, MA, internationally recognized for its ground-breaking work in the fight against this devastating illness.

START FUNDRAISING

Incentives

• Raise a minimum of $250 and receive the above offer and be entered into a raffle for a pair of Running Shoes.
• Raise a minimum of $500 and receive the above offers and be entered into a raffle for 4 tickets to a future Red Sox game.
• The Top 5 Fundraisers will be invited for a tour of Dr. Brown's Lab at UMASS Chan Medical School to see where their funds are going and meet some of the research team!

*Incentives will be based on funds raised by 12:00 EST on Race Day, 6/13/2026.

How to become a fundraiser:

5k Participants: click here to register and follow the steps to become a fundraiser or create/join a team!.

Volunteers or other supporters: you can still fundraise! Click here to set up your fundraising page or create/join a team!

*Please note that our event does not have running teams. Teams are only for the purpose of linking individual fundraisers together to create a group (“team”).
If you have any questions, please email us at run4als@gmail.com. We are happy to help!

Click here to learn more about the research at UMASS Chan Medical School.

 

Monica Brum is Running Boston
 
Please support our Boston Marathon runner, Monica Brum, who is dedicating her run to raising critical funds for The Angel Fund.

The 2026 Boston Marathon is Monica's 2nd running of the Boston Marathon (2nd marathon overall and nine half marathons). 

"Running the Boston Marathon allows me to run for those who can’t. ALS is a devastating disease that takes away something we often take for granted—the ability to move. As a runner and physical therapist, I see every day how powerful and essential movement is, which is why finding a cure is so deeply important to me. By fundraising for the Angel Fund for ALS Research, I’m proud to support an organization working tirelessly to advance research and bring hope to those affected. Every mile I run is for those who can’t, and every dollar raised brings us closer to a cure."

I am very excited to be fundraising for this incredible organization and hope you will support me by making a tax-deductible financial pledge. 

You may donate here.

 

The Kids' Color Run is an exciting event for children of all fitness levels from ages 6 through 12! There is no need to race, this is a FUN run! Enjoy every moment of getting covered in the vibrant colors (all are kid-safe!) along the course with friends. The finish line will be an astounding scene of colorful blasts and laughs!

The course length is .7 miles. The space is limited and sold out last year, so please make sure to register early. You do not want to miss all the fun! Register here.

COLOR RUN TIPS
Please be in Lot N by 9:45am. The Color Run starts at 10:00.

• Wear your white Color Run t-shirt. Let’s see how colorful you can get by the finish!
• Sunglasses: You will look fabulous in your sunglasses (that are provided), so don’t forget them. They also help prevent getting the color in your eyes!
• Bandana: A fun color accessory or can be used to cover your mouth when going through the color blast stations (especially if you are prone to sneezing).
• Shoes: If you do not want your new kicks to get colorful, wear an old pair of sneakers.
• Best viewing Station: Make sure to bring your cameras to capture the final color blast.
• Ride Home: Pack a towel to sit on, so you won’t need to vacuum out your car!
• The powder is made of cornstarch and food grade color dye. The color washes off the skin easily with soap and water, and will come out of clothing in a normal wash cycle. A leave in conditioner in the hair before the run will help get the color out of your hair afterwards. Take caution if you are prone to asthma which may be induced by corn starch.

 

COURSE MAP (.7 MILES)

   
 

You have 3 options for picking up your bib and shirt!

Pre-Race: Avoid the race day stress and pick up your bib number and t-shirts BEFORE the race. If you purchased raffle tickets when you registered, you can pick them up here.

Color run t-shirts, bandanas, and sunglasses can also be picked up at these times.

Pre-race packet pickup options:

*Thursday, June 11th at PR Running, 18 Lyman St., Westborough from 12:00pm-6:00pm
*Friday, June 12th at Price Chopper, 167 W. Main St., Hopkinton from 12:00pm-6:00pm

Race Morning:

Saturday, June 13th 7:15-8:20am behind Hopkinton High School on Hayden Rowe.

*If you registered before June 11th, your bib # was emailed to you and you can tell the volunteers your bib #. If you don't know your bib #, that's ok! Just provide the volunteers with your name and they will look it up for you.

2025 Results

2024 Results

2023 Results

2022 Results
 
2020/2021
Event was held virtually. Visit our Facebook page to see photos!
 
2019 Results
 
2018 Results
 
2017 Results
 
2016 Results
 
2015 Results

2014 Results

2026 RAFFLE/SILENT AUCTION
The 2026 Raffle will offer the below items on Event Day, June 13, 2025. All proceeds benefit The Angel Fund for ALS Research. Thank you to all of our donors for contributing these amazing items! *Must be present to win!

Raffle tickets (5 tickets for $20) can be purchased in-person on race day.

Raffle and silent auction items will be available soon (new items added regularly!):

 

Thank you for considering our event for sponsorship. We have exciting opportunities for sponsors at all levels to join us and will work with your budget to provide the best opportunity to promote your organization and recognize your involvement. The Sharon Timlin Memorial Event could not continue without the help of local business and organizations like yours.

Please contact Ann at run4als@gmail.com if you’d like to work together. We look forward to working with you!

WHY SPONSOR?
As a sponsor of the Sharon Timlin Memorial Event: A Race to Cure ALS, you will join us in making an impact against this devastating disease. Every dollar raised is directed toward the Angel Fund for ALS Research. 93% of funds expended goes to UMass Chan Medical School, where Dr. Robert Brown and his world-renowned colleagues are doing groundbreaking research toward a cure or effective treatment. The level of support that the Timlin Family and the community of Hopkinton are giving to this effort ensures that sponsorship will offer the highest level of philanthropic visibility and exposure.

       

Kids' Color Run: Commemorative 2025 Race Shirt

5K Race: Commemorative T-Shirt

Virtual Option: T-Shirt