Charity

It isn’t all fun and games with Peoria H3. We also do a lot of good in our communities and raise money for local charities. The Red Dress Run is the most iconic and philanthropic tradition of the Hash House Harriers—the self-proclaimed "drinking club with a running problem." Born out of a delightful 1987 accident in California where a female guest unexpectedly ran a trail in her flight attire (a red dress and heels), the event quickly evolved into a massive, global fundraising phenomenon. Today, local "kennels" (chapters) worldwide host these annual events, requiring all participants—regardless of gender—to don their finest, funniest, or most outrageous red dresses. While the atmosphere is intentionally irreverent, featuring short, casual trails punctuated by socializing and beer stops, the charitable impact is incredibly serious. Major events, like the massive Red Dress Run in New Orleans, routinely attract thousands of crimson-clad participants and have raised millions of dollars for local charities, funneling registration fees directly into domestic violence shelters, food banks, and medical research. Peoria hosts a Red Dress Run every September, selecting a local charity as its beneficiary. We also attend the Red Dress Run of the Quad Cities Hash House Harriers every February, and additionally look for other charity dress runs to visit in the hashing community. And we support the endeavors of Midwest H3’s Blue Dress Runs for the Trevor Project by attending their main event every Fall, and also by supporting smaller satellite events throughout the Midwest. More images coming soon!