Muddy River Marathon Donates $28,000 to Boost Local Organizations and Special Projects

Muddy River Marathon donated $28,000 to organizations including Graceful Opportunities, Discovery Playhouse, Southeast Kids in Action and Howard Aslinger Foundation on Tuesday, July 9 at Missouri Running Co.

The Muddy River Marathon took place May 4 and the donations will go to some organization's operations and special projects. Graceful Opportunities chairman of the board Samuel Duer said in addition to Grace Coffee & Cafe they’re expanding to work with Discovery Playhouse.

“That's going to open up more opportunities, as well as we have another location that we haven't announced yet and that is going to take some capital to get started, and so this will contribute towards that,” he said.

Discovery Playhouse executive director Christa Weber said the donation will be going toward Discovery’s next big project. She said the project would be around a “five-year deal” of expanding to a natural, outdoor sensory-friendly play area.

Howard Aslinger Foundation board member Bryan Kelpe said the donation will allow it to continue helping the foundation offer scholarships to students with disabilities and help provide equipment to ACE athletes.

Southeast Kids in Action student Jonathan Madigan said the donation will help it do more activities. He said he’s excited, knowing this will help the organization do even greater things.

Co-director of the Muddy River Marathon Brandon Hahs said seeing all the people come in and giving out the donation really makes the work worth it.

“We will all wake up tomorrow after doing this and say, ‘Let's go — it's time for next year.’ (The year) 2025 will be the fifth annual Muddy River Marathon so we're hoping to do some extra stuff and it just makes it all worth it,” Hahs said.

He said registration for the 2025 marathon is planned to open Monday, Sept. 9.