03/09/2025
It’s not “goodbye” - it’s “see ya later!” 🥺💜
To our amazing supporters:
In 2008 the Bow Lake Dam 15K/5K was created when a group of friends came together to organize an event to raise awareness and funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of their sweet 5 year-old friend Maggie Rose. Since infancy, Maggie has been a warrior taking on the daily challenges of life with CF.
In 2009, the first of our annual events took place outside of the Grange Hall in Strafford, NH. Minus a few years lost to a pandemic and that one newsworthy night-before forced cancellation, our 16 years saw hundreds of runners and walkers circling Bow Lake past live bands and inspirational signs, climbing up the infamous mile-long hill, and crossing a shared 5K and 15K finish-line to enjoy the best post-race BBQ.
During the past decade and a half we have sent over $130,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, all while making new CF connections and educating the public on what cystic fibrosis is. We spent hours deciding on shirt colors and award prizes, and last but not least, we watched our sweet Maggie (now 22) grow up and take on the world while kicking CF's butt. (We’re not really that old, are we?)
It has been an absolute honor dedicating countless hours spreading awareness and organizing an event that means so much to each and every one of our crew members. However, just as we all have aged over the past 17 years, so has the world, and times just aren't like they used to be. There are now many more race events than ever before for our event to compete with, and the rise in costs to put on our event has made it very difficult to keep our little non-profit afloat over the past few years. Due to the continuously lower registration numbers and the ever-rising costs in all things that it takes to put on such an event, our 2024 event was the first time in BLD history that we broke even financially, which left us unable to send any funds to the Foundation afterward. And so, while it wasn't planned and while we are very torn to do so, it has been decided that the Bow Lake Dam 15K/5K race crossed its final finish line last summer. Being a smaller non-profit race, we know things won’t get easier for us, and we want to be able to use our CF-fighting energy in ways that we know can truly make a difference. This decision was not made lightly, as this event has been a huge part of our crews' lives. It’s been a cornerstone of our personal fights against cystic fibrosis and brought together an incredible community of runners, supporters, and advocates over the last decade and a half.
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to every participant, volunteer, sponsor, and donor who has supported our small but mighty event.
Your dedication and generosity have made a real impact fueling vital research and support for those affected by cystic fibrosis and creating hope for a cure. While the racing chapter of our Bow Lake Dam 15K/5K legacy is closing, our mission to find that cure still remains the same. Please stay connected with us as we explore the possibility of a slight rebrand and creating new fundraising and awareness opportunities. (We're all missing Flatbread Pizza night, right?)
From the bottom of our hearts—thank you. Together we have done big things with our little race, and together we will continue the journey toward a cure for CF.
It's not “goodbye” - it's “see ya later!”. Because until there's a cure, we've still got work to do.
With BLD love,
Prez Dj and The BLD Crew.
