#Be A Buddy 5K
#Be A Buddy 5K logo

#Be A Buddy 5K

West Melbourne, Florida, United States View on map
Oct 17, 2026 (America/New_York local time)
Running

About this race

To Benefit:  The Parker Foundation for Autism and Child Development, a Florida based 501c3 non-profit EIN# 47-2763126 serving Brevard County and beyond since 2015. The Parker Foundation provides free resources to children, teens, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and special needs and their families through funding and facilitating education, safety, sports and arts programs. The #BeABuddy 5K celebrates the Be a Buddy Initiative which includes our Peer Buddy and Buddy Ambassador program, bullying prevention education, and safety initiatives to connect families with law enforcement and first responders. The Parker Foundation is thankful for the opportunity to provide events where individuals, businesses and organizations can come together to help integrate special needs families into their communities.   

RACE AMENITIES:

  • Awesome race T-shirt (Or $5 no T-shirt option)
  • Finisher medal
  • Free refreshments post-race
  • Awards presentation for Age Group Winners
  • Team Awards: Fastest, Largest and Most Team Spirit
  • Awards for Overall Winners
  • DJ/Entertainment
  • Post race free Family Health and Fitness EXPO highlighting sponsors and vendors/local organizations with trick or treating for the kids and fun activities
  • Adaptive sports stations for families: Tennis, Basketball and Soccer led by student volunteer “Buddies”
  • Take “The Be a Buddy Pledge” and sign our giant “Unity Banner” to show your commitment to being a Buddy in our community!
 

TIME TABLE:

Friday, October 16th - Running Zone (3696 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32935)  10:00 AM - 6:30 PM: Packet Pickup & Registration Saturday, October 17th - Space Coast Field of Dreams (3053 Fell Road, West Melbourne, FL 32904) 7:00 AM: Packet Pickup & Late Registration Opens 7:45 AM: Packet Pickup & Late Registration Ends 8:00 AM: 5K Start! *9:00 AM: Free Kids 100 yard dash fun run *9:15 AM: Awards Ceremony *Approximate times  

AWARDS:

Top 3 Overall M & F Top Masters (40+) M & F Top 3 in each age group M & F: 8 & under, 9-11, 12-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+ Fastest Team, Largest Team and Most Team Spirit!  

FEES:

Adult - $35 ($40 10/16 - 10/17) Child under 16 - $20 ($25 10/16 - 10/17)

Pick your distance

Running

Individual 5K

Oct 17, 2026 5K 8:00 AM
$35.00
Open

Virtual 5K Run/Walk

Oct 17, 2026 5K 8:00 AM
$35.00
Open

Typical race-day weather

Based on 9 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in West Melbourne.

Temp (°C)
Minimum temperature (race-day average) 21.4° / Maximum temperature (race-day average) 27.1°
Feels Like (°C)
Minimum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-day average) 21.4° / Maximum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-day average) 29.1°
Wind (km/h)
Average wind speed (race-day average)
21.3
Precip (mm)
Average precipitation (race-day average)
1.6mm
Humidity
Average relative humidity (race-day average)
71.0%

Course

Route map and elevation profile

No course map published yet.

The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.

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Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.

  • Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
  • Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
  • Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
  • Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 3 West Melbourne events

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