A Thanksgiving Tradition 50 Years in the Making | November 26, 2026

Lace up your sneakers and be part of Birmingham history!

This Thanksgiving, the Levite Jewish Community Center proudly marks an extraordinary milestone: the 50th Annual Sam Lapidus Montclair Run (SLMR). What began in 1976 as a small neighborhood run along Montclair Road has grown over five decades into one of Alabama’s most beloved holiday traditions—welcoming more than 1,500 runners, walkers, families, and out-of-town visitors each year.

Whether you are chasing a personal record or starting Thanksgiving morning with a festive family walk, we invite you to celebrate 50 years of community, tradition, and togetherness.

Running for a Reason: Honoring Sam’s Legacy
While we celebrate five decades of this community gathering, we run with deep shared purpose.

In 2009, the event was renamed in loving memory of Sam Lapidus, an inspiring young man who loved fitness, sports, and life. Sam passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma in November 2008—just nine days before his 15th birthday.

In Sam’s honor, $5 of every registration is donated directly to the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama. Thanks to our dedicated participants and sponsors, the LJCC has raised and donated over $100,000 to fund critical pediatric cancer research and patient care right here in Birmingham. When you run the SLMR, your strides directly support children and families facing pediatric cancer.