HANNIBAL, Mo. — The George H. Riedel Foundation has awarded a $1,500 grant to The Gage Leftwich Memorial to support the 2026 Gage Beast Endurance Race, a growing community event that raises funds for students with specialized needs. This is the organization’s first grant from the Foundation.
The Gage Beast Endurance Race—now entering its fourth year—will be held June 6 at the Hannibal Regional Hospital Healthy Way Trail. The four-hour, team-based event is unique in its collaborative format, where teams of four work together to log as many miles as possible.
The Riedel grant will fund a professional electronic chip timing system for the race. Participation has grown to nearly 80 racers, and organizers hope that number will continue to rise with the new timing system ensuring accurate results with a higher level of professionalism that many endurance racers expect. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mississippi Valley State School, supporting adaptive equipment and specialized educational needs for local students.
The Gage Leftwich Memorial was founded by Greg and Jennifer Leftwich in honor of their son, Gage, who lived with an ultra-rare disease and passed away in 2022.
“The Gage Beast Endurance Race is one of several annual events we work on,” Jennifer Leftwich said. “We do this as a tribute to Gage’s spirit and a way to connect the community. We welcome runners and walkers of all ability levels and encourage families to participate together. Our goal is to create an inclusive community experience that blends fitness, teamwork, and philanthropy.”
“The race is a great example of how a community can come together to honor a legacy while supporting students with unique needs,” said Riedel Foundation Lead Trustee Michael Bukstein.
Anyone interested in joining the Gage Beast Race can check out their Facebook page or email [email protected]. The race is set for Saturday June 6 at the Hannibal Regional Hospital campus on the Healthy Way trail.
The Riedel Foundation has awarded approximately $7.8 million dollars to non-profit organizations since it was founded in 2000. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of Hannibal residents.