The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association, established in 1978, provides funding for
Tampa Bay area running programs and youth organizations. It administers the annual Gasparilla Distance Classic Race weekend and the Junior Gasparilla Distance Classic, both sponsored by
Publix Super Markets. Races were first run in February of that year and since then, $7 million has been raised and donated to non-profit organizations including
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa, Friends of Tampa Parks & Recreation,
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa, Girls Inc. of Pinellas and other running programs. More than 485,000+ runners and walkers have finished races. The race weekend includes the Half Marathon, 8k, the Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K & 5K,
Kellogg's 5K Walk, Fifth Third Bank Half Marathon Team Challenge & Stroller Roll,
Michelob Ultra Challenge (15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K) and the Beck's Light Challenge (15K, 5K & Half Marathon) The Gasparilla Distance Classic used to include a marathon race (26.2 miles). The final marathon was in 2010 and titled the "Final Voyage". Wilson Chepkwony of Kenya was the Men’s 2010 Marathon Champion with a time of 2:24:48 and Melissa Gacek of St. Paul, Minn was the Women’s 2010 Marathon Champion with a time of 2:53:20
Human interest stories In 2008
Iraq war veteran Ivan Castro ran of the Gasparilla Classic only 17 months after being blinded by shrapnel on a rooftop in Baghdad. Lieutenant Colonel Sam Arwood ran the 2010 Gasparilla Marathon away on a treadmill in
Afghanistan. Sam had originally planned to run in the marathon in Tampa, but was deployed one month before the race. He was given the Ok by race officials to run a course on base in Afghanistan, but was forced onto a treadmill after heavy rains ruined the outdoor track. ==Charity==