About Us
Our Story
We are Treasure State Runners, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of four Montana women and running partners, dedicated to supporting the Helena community and sharing our love of running. Our goal is to embrace our passion and do something exceptional with it. In 2021, an out-of-town friend and fellow runner visited Helena. She had hopes of running a half-marathon, but the timing wasn’t working out. Our little group organized an unofficial run for her, complete with a crêpe paper finish line, custom shirts, and a route showcasing Helena. While on the run, our friend suggested we organize a race as a fundraiser for a local charity. None of us had ever considered this before; we were race runners not race directors. However, the seed was planted and the idea grew. Within 9 months, we had formed the 501(c)(3) Treasure State Runners and started organizing the first Just for the Helena of It race. The 13.1 mile route we ran that day became the base for the Just for the Helena of It half marathon course. In October of 2022, we launched Just for the Helena of It. We were inspired, and driven to create a race that we as runners would want to attend. Our first event included both a half marathon and 5K race to benefit The Friendship Center. We were strongly supported by our local community and thrilled by the interest we received nationally. With over 350 registered runners from 13 states, our 2022 event raised $17,000. Our inaugural year empowered us to do more. We began to envision Just for the Helena of It as an annual event for the running community to look forward to each year. We partnered with the Governor’s Cup to create the Queen City Crown race series, and attended as many local races as we could. In October 2023, our second Just for the Helena of It event brought over 550 registered runners from 17 states, added a new 10k race, and raised $24,000 for The Friendship Center. Feeling like the race was gaining momentum, in 2024 we added Girls Thrive as a second beneficiary. That October, nearly 700 runners attended Just for the Helena of It and we were able to raise and donate $35,000 to The Friendship Center and $5,000 to Girls Thrive. Year four in 2025 saw similar attendance, and we were able to donate another $40,000, bringing our total donations to $121,000! As Just for the Helena of It continues to grow, so do our aspirations. We know we can count on support from returning runners, sponsors, and volunteers, and we are excited to see it grow in size and scope. Through the growing pains, learning curves, it has been the dedication and zeal of all involved that has made Treasure Sate Runners a success. We will continue supporting our community to the best of our abilities, and look forward to sharing our love of running for many years to come.
Sidney Wilder
President | Executive Event Director
Sidney was born and raised in Colorado, then lived in Wyoming and Washington before settling down in Helena in 2019. During that time, she worked as a nationally certified Massage Therapist. Sidney has dedicated the last nine years to raising her three children as a stay at home mother.
Throughout Sidney’s life she has been dedicated to staying active. A competitive soccer player in high school, she was a natural team leader and expected captain multiple times. In 2017, Sidney began distance running, completing several marathons and half marathons since.
As President of Treasure State Runners, Sidney is excellent at ensuring the team is working in areas that best suit their natural skill sets. Sidney's talents truly shine while she organizes the start/finish line. She coordinates all of the registration events, manages ordering and design, and is the liaison with our local printer. She is dedicated to helping the Helena community and making a positive impact with her work.
Kathleen Koford
Vice President | Fundraising & Volunteer Director
Raised in Billings, Kathleen graduated from MSU Bozeman with a B.A. in Foreign Language and Literature. While in Bozeman she met her husband, a Helena native, and they moved to Helena in 2012 to put down roots. Kathleen currently thrives as a stay at home mother to three children.
Kathleen began running in high school on the cross-country team, but it wasn’t until she moved to Helena that she fell in love with distance running. She has completed several marathons, and she continues training with hopes of running a Boston qualifying time. Outside of running and her work with Treasure State Runners, Kathleen enjoys board games, reading, and tending to her many chickens.
Within Treasure State Runners Kathleen coordinates the volunteers, manages all the race sponsorships, donations, grant applications, and liaisons with The Governor’s Cup for the Queen City Crown. She radiates optimism and is a hard worker with big stamina. Her greatest asset lies in building trusting relationships with local businesses and volunteers.
Jo Hawkins
Treasurer | Community Engagement & Finance Director
Jo has lived in Helena for thirty-nine years, and has certainly put down some deep roots. She would tell you that she is retired, but she remains active by leading and participating in numerous local organizations. Jo’s eight grandchildren all live in Montana and keep her busy outside of her many philanthropic commitments.
Jo first took up running in 1977. Her goal is to never stop, and to inspire others by showing that running is truly a lifetime sport. Over the years, Jo has run too many races to keep count and has won in her age group numerous times. When she isn’t running, volunteering, or spending time with her family, Jo enjoys calligraphy, decorating Ukrainian eggs, and puttering around in her yard.
Within Treasurer State Runners, Jo shoulders the duties of Treasurer. She also applies for and maintains all of the necessary permits and insurance policies for the event, organizes parking, and liaisons with the race beneficiaries. Jo is inspired by the community support that Just for the Helena of It has received, which allows us to continue donating a meaningful amount each year.
Dallas Burke
Secretary | Communications Director
Dallas grew up just outside of Helena, in Clancy, and graduated from Helena High. After high school she moved to central Oregon. While in Oregon, Dallas pursued an education in Massage Therapy and met her husband. The two returned to Helena in 2019 and enjoy being closer to family. Dallas is a licensed Massage Therapist and owns Calming Waters Bodyworks. She is passionate about using her talents to help others.
Dallas has always been a fair weather runner, but it wasn’t until 2023 that she seriously dedicated herself to running by signing up for her first marathon. While she may not be fast, she firmly believes that all times are good times.
Dallas joined Treasure State Runners in 2024 after supporting the Just for the Helena of It race as a volunteer for two years. She works on social media, cross-race promoting, managing our extensive email inbox, taking minutes, and helping to keep the race weekend chaos manageable. She continually brings her A-game to the task at hand, and her thoughtful insights and fresh ideas have helped to make Just for the Helena of It a continuing success.
