Dalton Sprague Sweeps Through 5Ks for Kids of St. Jude

Since beginning his competitive running journey 9 months ago in Del Rio, Dalton completed over 20 local races.

Making every step count, Dalton Sprague, a 21-year-old Army soldier and student, has transformed his personal fitness routine into a powerful mission to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Since beginning his competitive running journey nine months ago in Del Rio, he has completed over 20 local races. Sprague aims to raise $3,500 and conquer the 2025 Chicago Marathon, choosing a charitable donation over the standard entry fee. More brain than brawn, Sprague said, "running is a mentality, it’s about overcoming obstacles and the fight to keep going."

Without any formal training, he placed 4th in his first race on July 3, 2024, “The Paul Revere Independence Night Fun Run” on Main Street hosted by Del Rio PTSD Awareness. He has placed first numerous times, but not always. Dalton said, “it’s not about winning, it’s trying to get better every day.” He shared a story of two back-to-back races, where he won first at his personal record pace, and then at his next race, he beat his own pace but didn’t take first place. He says he competes against himself, “I was disappointed when I didn’t win, but I’m still glad I went and improved myself.”

Most recently, he won first place at the St. Patties Day 5K on March 29, 2025, another event hosted by the Del Rio PTSD Awareness group. The annual event at the Parks Foundation Park, route passed through Brown Plaza, to the San Felipe Run/Walk Creek Trail Head, and back. Dalton showed up dressed fully decked out, with leprechaun hat, and a red t-shirt that read “I run for the kids of St. Jude.” Sprague dresses in "eye-grabbing" outfits at races to draw attention to his cause. He is looking for excuses to engage with the community and talk to people so that he can tell them about his mission and share the donation link for his fundraising efforts.

Dalton dressed up as the Gingerbread Man during holiday runs to draw attention to his cause

"I got into competitive racing in Del Rio," Sprague stated. He loves running because it is available to anyone, if they put their mind to it. He likes the inclusiveness of running events, that differently abled people get involved. Dalton said, “I’ve seen people compete in wheelchairs, people will show up on crutches.” A runner’s greatest strength is believing they can. He said, “there are people on the sidelines cheering you on, making you stronger, pushing you further.”

His dedication extends beyond local races. "I have a goal to complete all the marathons, you know the major cities" he said, citing plans for Chicago, New York, and Boston. He runs at least 1 mile per day and has run 400 miles so far in 2025. On October 10, 2024, he completed his 1st ever marathon at Del Rio’s 1st ever Marathon, another PTSD Awareness event. Just 60 days after completing his first 5K, he built up 3.1 miles to 26.2 miles in a marathon.

The PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness group, founded by former Del Rio mayor Bruno Lozano, inspired Sprague's charitable running. Lozano, who was diagnosed with PTSD through the Department of Veterans Affairs, established the group to "break the stigma often associated with PTSD." Lozano explained, "What began as part of my own healing journey has grown into a broader effort to expand awareness of PTSD recovery—beyond military and law enforcement communities—to include survivors of sexual assault, environmental trauma, illness, and more."

Lozano said, “Our organization primarily promotes running and walking as healthy, accessible coping mechanisms for mental wellness. Since our founding in June 2023, we’ve seen meaningful success in connecting people through movement and shared healing.”

Del Rio Run Crew participates at the PTSD Awareness 5K on March 29, 2025

Sprague balances his running with Army training and online studies at SNHU, pursuing a B.A. in Business Administration. "I don’t have the typical runner’s body," he admitted. Dalton said, “When I wanted to join the army, people looked at me and assumed I wouldn’t make it. They assumed I couldn’t run, they underestimated me, and I proved them wrong.” For work, he chose to serve his country, and now he has transformed his hobbies to serve a greater purpose as well. Dalton said, “I hope to raise as much as I can for this amazing charity and hopefully make my miles mean something even more.”

Being able to afford the $300 entry fee, he instead obligated himself to a $3,500 charitable donation. He has raised $750 of his $3,500 pledge thus far. Dalton will have to pay out of pocket if his fundraising goal is not met. The Chicago Marathon is on October 12, 2025, this gives him a long term goal, something to run for, something to run towards. Dalton said he wants to “make something more of myself, contribute to something bigger than myself.” Dalton doesn’t have a direct connection to childhood cancer but chose St. Jude because of the fighter mentality. When he runs he tries to clear his mind or think about how far he has come, he said, "I might be suffering, but it might alleviate someone else’s suffering… I never give up, the pain will go away eventually."

His running not only benefits his own health, but the health of St. Jude’s children in Texas and across the globe. Participating in every single race that he can find, traveling to neighboring cities if that’s what it takes. After competing in his first race in Del Rio with the PTSD Awareness group in the summer of 2024, he hasn’t stopped. Sprague encourages community support. "No donation is too small," he said. "If you can't donate please share because even that can go a long way and be a big help."

Dalton shared that St. Jude “families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Treatments created at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer.”

To donate to Dalton Sprague’s St. Jude fundraiser, visit: https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8639288&fr_id=158073&pg=personal

Local efforts supporting childhood cancer research also include Brooke’s Blossoming Hope for Childhood Cancer, founded by Jessica Hester out of Del Rio. The Val Verde County Commissioners Court and Del Rio City Council have each donated $10,000 to the organization’s Devils River Run for Hope. The fundraiser will be held on April 12, 2025 at the Devils River State Natural Area and the McKenna Ranch in north-central Val Verde County.