Participate with your family and friends at the 7th Annual Piggyback Dash, a chip-timed 10K and 5K run, as well as a 2K fun run/walk. Located in the heart of Franklin County, this unique race will take you on a rolling course through Union, MO, with a challenging but rewarding finish at the top of Autumn Hill.

As part of the inspiration behind the race, once runners reach the bottom of Autumn Hill they have the option to carry someone piggyback style up the hill to the finish line for extra finisher swag. This portion is completely voluntary and is not required in order to finish. It doesn’t matter who the person on your back is. They do not have to be a registered participant.

All proceeds from the race will benefit The Lance Purschke Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Union R-XI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Why the Name
Throughout high school, if there wasn’t a practice to get to, then Lance and friends would run almost everyday after dismissal. He routinely ran up Autumn Hill…often using it for hill repeats. Lance loved the hill and the challenge it presented. He never complained about it. Rather, his was the voice of encouragement for others to rise to the challenge. In fact, he is the first person we know of to carry someone piggyback up the hill. Hence the race name, The Piggyback Dash.