Do you want to do something good for your community? Interested in meeting new people? Need an excuse to leave the house and do something healthy? You’re in luck: Rio Salado College has an event coming up this spring that hits the trifecta of fun, active, and charitable. On Saturday, April 18, we’re hosting our 8th annual Dash With Rio fun run at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. Dash With Rio is a fundraiser for the Jo C. Bennett fund; the run is open to the community at large, with different run formats (10km, 5km, and 1 mile) to meet people where they are athletically.
You can walk. You can run. You can bring your dog; just be sure to bring a fun attitude and a good pair of running shoes as we all sweat for a good cause. Want to see what Dash With Rio is like? Check out highlights from our 2025 Dash With Rio on our blog.
What to Know Before You Go
The event kicks off at 7:30 a.m. at Kiwanis Park North Field on April 18. You can pick up your registration packet on the day of the race or you can get it earlier in the week at our Tempe location. Included in the packet will be your running bib with your timing chip. All Dash With Rio runners will also get a custom event T-shirt and a finisher medal.
Awards to the top 3 male and female finishers in the 10km and 5km categories will be handed out after the run. These winners will be divided by age group (10-14, 15-19, 20-29. 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+): each division gets their own set of winners.
There is a registration fee to participate in the fun run. Early bird pricing is available from now through January 31st.
Register Here
About the Jo C. Bennett Fund
The Jo C. Bennett Student Assistance Fund helps support students facing hardships that could derail their academic progress. The fund provides immediate financial support to Rio students needing assistance in dealing with situations that could cause them to drop out of college. The fund was created by Dr. Patricia Case, who served as Rio Salado’s Faculty Chair of Social Sciences for 31 years, and is named in honor of her mother.
Can’t make the run but you’d still like to make a contribution to the Jo C. Bennett fund? You can make a donation here.
Cost
10KM
- $35 (early bird)
- $40 ( Feb. 2- March 31)
- $45 (April 1- 17)
- $50 (race day registration)
5KM
- $25 (early bird)
- $30 ( Feb. 2- March 31)
- $35 (April 1- 17)
- $40 (race day registration)
1 Mile
- $15 (early bird)
- $20 ( Feb. 2- March 31)
- $25 (April 1- 17)
- $30 (race day registration)
Please note that there’s an additional $3.25 fee for registration.
Dash With Rio Schedule
Saturday, April 18
- 6:30 a.m: Packet pick up (race number, shirt, and timing chip) and race day registration at Kiwanis Park
- 7:30 a.m: 10km begins
- 8:00 a.m: 5km begins
- 8:05 a.m: 1 mile walk begins
- 8:45 a.m: 10km awards presentation
- 9:00 a.m: 5km awards presentation
Article by Austin Brietta