25th Anniversary Harpoon 5-Miler Powered by Needham Bank Draws 4,500 Runners to Boston’s Seaport, Over $3.1 Million Raised for ALS to Date

May 21, 2026

Boston’s most fun race celebrates 25 years of community partnership, running in the Seaport, and the fight against ALS

BOSTON, MA — May 21, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The 25th Annual Harpoon 5-Miler powered by Needham Bank welcomed a sold-out field of 4,500 runners to Boston’s Seaport and South Boston, marking one of the most memorable editions in the race’s 25-year history. Participants and spectators enjoyed sunny skies, scenic waterfront views of Boston Harbor, and a festive post-race celebration at Harpoon Brewery. The Harpoon 5 Miler has raised over $3.1 million for the care and cure of ALS since its inception.

The energy throughout race day reflected the strength and spirit of the Greater Boston community, as runners, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters came together in support of the fight against ALS. The event featured a flat, fast, and scenic course through the Seaport before culminating in a festive celebration at Harpoon Brewery with freshly brewed Harpoon beer, music, dancing, partner activations and community camaraderie, including an expanded Recovery Zone powered by Perform Better, Sweat Houz and Muscle Milk.

“Twenty-five years ago, this race was created to bring people together and raise funds for ALS,” said Charles M. Storey, Harpoon 5-Miler Race Director. “Seeing thousands of runners cross the finish line, surrounded by the energy of the Seaport community and the support of our incredible partners, is a powerful reminder of why we do this. The Harpoon 5-Miler has always represented something bigger than the race itself.”

Since its founding, the Harpoon 5-Miler has united runners, partners, volunteers, and the broader New England community in a shared commitment to raising funds for ALS research, care, and the pursuit of a cure.

“The Angel Fund for ALS Research is grateful to Harpoon for its overwhelming support over the past 25 years,” said Angel Fund President Rich Kennedy. “The Harpoon 5-Miler has raised more than $3.1 million in the fight to eradicate this disease, and we are deeply grateful to Harpoon, Needham Bank as presenting sponsor, and all of the runners and volunteers who continue to make this event possible.”

“We are incredibly proud to stand alongside Harpoon Brewery for the historic 25th Anniversary of the Harpoon 5-Miler,” added Mike Pitt, CEO of the Peter Frates ALS Foundation. “The energy, community spirit, and unwavering commitment shown by the runners, volunteers, and partners like Needham Bank, ASICS, and Toyota are what fuel our mission every day. The funds raised through this event directly support the ongoing fight against ALS, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this milestone celebration such a success.”

The 25^th Anniversary Harpoon 5-Miler was bolstered by the commitment and enthusiasm of the race’s official partners, with employee teams from each organization competing for bragging rights on race day. Needham Bank served as the Presenting Sponsor, bringing its strong commitment to local community investment to one of Boston’s most beloved road races. Needham Bank’s President, Chair and CEO Joe Campanelli, was there on the starting line to fire the starter’s gun.

Toyota joined as Official Mobility Partner and maintained a strong presence throughout the spring with the 25th Anniversary Harpoon 5-Miler Toyota Tundra, as well as race day activations featuring the Toyota 4Runner as the official pace vehicle.

ASICS served as Official Footwear and Apparel Partner in collaboration with Marathon Sports, supporting runners with nine community training runs leading up to race weekend. The newly opened ASICS Run Shop on Newbury Street hosted several events for the Harpoon 5-Miler community and will continue to be a hub for runner activations moving forward.

Runna joined as the Official Online Training Partner, helping runners across Greater Boston and beyond prepare for race day.

As requested by the community, Harpoon 5-Miler was pleased to collaborate with long-time race partner Polar Beverages to replace all single-use plastic water bottles with canned Polar water on race day, improving the sustainability of the race day experience. Polar also partnered with ASICS and Harpoon for a 3-mile plogging run in the Back Bay and Charles River Esplanade to remove trash and debris after the Boston Marathon.

Registration for the 26^th Annual Harpoon 5-Miler on Saturday, May 17, 2027 will open in early February 2027 and runners who are interested in getting on the mailing list are encouraged to enroll at harpoon5miler.com.

About Needham Bank

Needham Bank offers an array of tech forward products and services that businesses and consumers need to manage their financial needs.  We have the financial expertise typically found at much larger institutions, and the local knowledge and commitment you can only find at a community bank. Known as the “Builder’s Bank”, Needham Bank has been helping individuals, businesses and non-profits build for their futures since 1892. For more information, please visit https://NeedhamBank.com. Needham Bank is a member of FDIC.

About Harpoon Brewery

Founded in 1986, Harpoon Brewery was the first craft brewery to open in Boston and one of the first in New England. Harpoon’s mission has always been to build community through great beer and shared experiences. Harpoon IPA, first introduced in 1993, remains a cornerstone of New England craft brewing — a testament to quality, consistency, and the spirit of Boston. Since then, Harpoon Brewery has expanded beyond its home base in the Seaport District in Boston, with locations in Windsor, VT, Manchester, NH, a Boston Common Summer Pop-Up, and Logan Airport. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and seasonal beers, along with special limited releases.

For more information, please contact:

Rob Day

press@barrelonebeer.com

www.harpoonbrewery.com