Miles for Smiles Fun Run
- Date Thu 14th August 2025
- Time 3:00PM CDT
- Location Baxter, Minnesota
- Price $32.80
- Races 2 races
- Distances 5km
Just added
Secure your place early
Event summary
Join us for the Miles for Smiles Fun Run on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in the beautiful community of Baxter, Crow Wing! This heartwarming event honors the memory of Jake Haapajoki, a vibrant young man whose infectious smile and spirit touched the lives of many. The 3.1-mile course, designed for both runners and walkers, winds around Forestview Middle School and features a fast and flat route with a few gentle hills to keep things interesting.
The festivities kick off at 3 PM with a variety of fun activities including chalk art, water balloon fights, rock painting, and delicious food options, ensuring a day full of joy and community spirit. The race itself starts at 5 PM and wraps up around 6:30 PM, giving participants plenty of time to enjoy the activities after crossing the finish line. With 100% of the proceeds dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention, your participation not only celebrates life but also helps spread hope and positivity. Come be part of this inspiring movement—together, we can make a difference!
The festivities kick off at 3 PM with a variety of fun activities including chalk art, water balloon fights, rock painting, and delicious food options, ensuring a day full of joy and community spirit. The race itself starts at 5 PM and wraps up around 6:30 PM, giving participants plenty of time to enjoy the activities after crossing the finish line. With 100% of the proceeds dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention, your participation not only celebrates life but also helps spread hope and positivity. Come be part of this inspiring movement—together, we can make a difference!
Organiser's Description
Smiles For Jake has taken on Race For Grace and turned it into Miles for Smiles.
Who is Jake?
Jake Haapajoki was your normal 16-year old kid. He was a son, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, a grandson, a friend, a boyfriend, an athlete and active in his church. Jake had a family that loved him and supported him in all he did. His siblings adored him. He had genuine connections with his aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. His community loved him. Jakes smile was nearly constant when he was in the presence of his friends and in social environments. His smile could light up a room like no other. His wild hair and a unique love his shoes were dominate in his handsome self. He loved candy.
Jake took his life on February 21, 2018. Jake couldnt see an end to his pain. Jake made a mistake. Suicide is always a mistake.
Jakes family and friends, through their despair and grief, have launched the Smiles for Jake Movement to begin work to eliminate suicide and provide hope to all that suffer from darkness and despair. The hashtag #WeAreAllJake has been created to represent each and every person in this world that needs an extra smile, a hug, a high five, kind words or simply a moment of attention.
Smiles for Jakes mission is to be a suicide prevention movement that spreads positivity through life-affirming actions, listening ears, and the message that everyone should have hope. Born in and spreading from a community that experienced the suicide of a beloved son, our short-term goal is to reduce the suicide rate and our long-term vision is to stomp out suicide worldwide.
***100% of the proceeds will go to the mission of spreading awareness, education and resources for mental health and suicide prevention.
The Miles For Smiles Run/Walk course follows a route around Forestview Middle School in Baxter, Minnesota. The 3.1 mile course is fast and flat with some small hills between mile 1 and mile 2. The event will start activities such as chalk, water balloon fights, rock painting, food, and much more at 3pm. The race will begin at 5pm and end around 6:30. There will be time for racers to enjoy activities after they finish the 5k.
Who is Jake?
Jake Haapajoki was your normal 16-year old kid. He was a son, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, a grandson, a friend, a boyfriend, an athlete and active in his church. Jake had a family that loved him and supported him in all he did. His siblings adored him. He had genuine connections with his aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. His community loved him. Jakes smile was nearly constant when he was in the presence of his friends and in social environments. His smile could light up a room like no other. His wild hair and a unique love his shoes were dominate in his handsome self. He loved candy.
Jake took his life on February 21, 2018. Jake couldnt see an end to his pain. Jake made a mistake. Suicide is always a mistake.
Jakes family and friends, through their despair and grief, have launched the Smiles for Jake Movement to begin work to eliminate suicide and provide hope to all that suffer from darkness and despair. The hashtag #WeAreAllJake has been created to represent each and every person in this world that needs an extra smile, a hug, a high five, kind words or simply a moment of attention.
Smiles for Jakes mission is to be a suicide prevention movement that spreads positivity through life-affirming actions, listening ears, and the message that everyone should have hope. Born in and spreading from a community that experienced the suicide of a beloved son, our short-term goal is to reduce the suicide rate and our long-term vision is to stomp out suicide worldwide.
***100% of the proceeds will go to the mission of spreading awareness, education and resources for mental health and suicide prevention.
The Miles For Smiles Run/Walk course follows a route around Forestview Middle School in Baxter, Minnesota. The 3.1 mile course is fast and flat with some small hills between mile 1 and mile 2. The event will start activities such as chalk, water balloon fights, rock painting, food, and much more at 3pm. The race will begin at 5pm and end around 6:30. There will be time for racers to enjoy activities after they finish the 5k.
Reviews
Done this event?
First-hand event reviews from people who have been there, done that and got the breathable T-shirt, really help everyone choose their next event.
Add a reviewMiles for Smiles Fun Run
