From Run4Sam
For 18 years, Run4Sam has brought the community together to celebrate the life of Samuel Brooklyn Reed through running, fellowship, and giving back. The annual race and walk has funded scholarships, supported local nonprofits, and invested in improvements at Gring’s Mill Park — all while honoring the memory of a young man who loved to run.
The 18th annual Run4Sam will take place on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Gring’s MillPark in Berks County. Events include a 4-mile run, a 2-mile walk, and a Kids Fun Run for children ages 12 and under. Race day registration starts at 8 a.m. Race applications are available on the Run4Sam website, or register online at Pretzel City Sports.
Run4Sam Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by family and friends in 2008 to honor the memory of Samuel Brooklyn Reed, a 2006 Schuylkill Valley High School graduate and accomplished cross-country and distance runner whose life was taken on Sept. 1, 2007, by a hit-and-run driver while he was attending the University of Pittsburgh.
Participants follow a scenic course along the historic Union Canal Towpath, one of Sam’s favorite places to run. The mostly flat, shaded cinder trail winds beside Tulpehocken Creek, passing the Gruber Wagon Works and Wertz’s Covered Bridge before returning to Gring’s Mill Park. The Kids Fun Run is led by bicycle escorts, and every child receives a goody bag. The race begins at 9:30 a.m., the walk at 9:45 a.m., and the Kids Fun Run at the return of the runners.
The event is powered by a dedicated team of volunteers who staff registration, water stations, a food tent, and the event’s legendary raffle table. Volunteers also lead and follow runners on bicycles along the course to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Over the years, Run4Sam has become much more than a race. Proceeds fund the Samuel Brooklyn Reed Scholarship, administered by the Berks County Community Foundation, which has awarded nearly $40,000 to local college-bound students.
Run4Sam has also invested more than $60,000 in projects that enhance Gring’s Mill Park for everyone who visits. This year’s proceeds will replace four Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) originally donated by Run4Sam in 2018 that are now due for replacement. Funds raised from the 2025 race also helped purchase and install Virginia Sweetspire, a native pollinator shrub, near Wertz’s Red Bridge.
Giving back extends beyond scholarships and park improvements. Since its founding, Run4Sam has donated nearly $50,000 to local nonprofit organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Helping Harvest, Hannah’s Hope Ministries, New Journey Community Outreach, Humane Society, the John Paul II Center, the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, and Café Esperanza, among many others.
Sam’s parents, Kurt and Peggy Reed, shared, “For 18 years, this event has celebrated Sam’s love of running while creating opportunities to give back to the community he loved. Every participant helps continue that legacy.”
Whether you run, walk, volunteer, or cheer from the sidelines, your participation helps continue Run4Sam’s mission of giving back while honoring Sam Reed and the places and things most important to him. Enjoy the beauty of Gring’s Mill Park, connect with friends and neighbors, and know that every step supports scholarships, local nonprofits, and projects that benefit the entire community.
Follow the Run4Sam Facebook page for event updates and information.
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