La Sierra fields largest team in Riverside run, raises foster youth tuition funds

11/19/2025 Darla Martin Tucker

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- It was an historic and poignant day for the team from La Sierra University. In partnership with TeamWith, a local social impact analytics company, La Sierra fielded the largest group in the history of the 48-year-old Mission Inn Run which took place on October 19 in Riverside, California. More than 300 student-athletes, faculty, staff, alumni and friends donned La Sierra-branded attire and hit the streets of Riverside, following a 3.1-mile course in the run’s 5k race.

La Sierra University alumnus Alexander Navarro poses with his medal after winning his age category in the Mission Inn Run on Oct. 19.

The contingent joined around 7,000 Riversiders who participated in the day’s various races. While race registration fees aided the Mission Inn Foundation, the university through its alumni office and TeamWith offered an opportunity for the La Sierra group to contribute toward the creation of a new La Sierra scholarship endowment named Home@LaSierra. The endowment will fund La Sierra University tuition and housing costs for eligible young people who are aging out of foster care, allowing them to pursue their college degree and a strong start on life surrounded by the supportive care of the campus community.

An official fundraising kickoff, “An Autumn Night’s Reade,” was held November 13 for Home@LaSierra with future events planned.

“We were thrilled with the La Sierra family’s turnout for the Mission Inn Run and owe a debt of gratitude in particular to our student-athletes whose significant presence and energy allowed us to cross the finish line as a record-holding group,” said La Sierra University President Christon Athur. “Many people worked hard to make this event a success, and to help get our new endowment off the ground. We are very excited about the future of Home@LaSierra and the impacts it can make in the lives of our most vulnerable young people. It is a lived example of our values that embrace justice for all people toward leveling the playing field of opportunity, so that all may reach their God-promised potential.”

The team from La Sierra University poses for a photo before the start of the 5k race during the Mission Inn Run on October 19. (Photo: Jon Hwang)

La Sierra University President Christon Arthur is interviewed by KTLA 5 prior to the start of the 5k race during the Mission Inn Run on October 19.

While waiting for the race to start, La Sierra’s students had fun stepping to music at the start line while Arthur participated in an interview with Los Angeles’ KTLA 5. Then, with the roar of the pace car, the La Sierra team and more than 2,000 others bolted forward.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to move and grow to meet their greatest strides.” – Alexander Navarro, 2025 health sciences alumnus, Mission Inn Run age group first place.

La Sierra’s Alexander Navarro, a 2025 graduate and a member of the university’s cross-country team finished first in his age group (20-24), finished first for La Sierra, and fourth overall out of 2,486 participants. He also bested his own record with a time of 16 minutes, 24 seconds.

Navarro graduated in June from La Sierra’s health science program, and the weekend before graduation, he was baptized during the university’s annual June baptism service on Founders’ Green.

“This was not just a workout, but a testament to retaining faith through every stride, breath, and heartbeat throughout the entire journey,” Navarro said about the race. “In fact, I never run without first thinking about God because He moves me with purpose, power, and motion. I set my personal record in the 5km, which gave me inspiration to run marathons, but most importantly, a greater attachment to God to make me run closer to Him.

“For this run, I helped raise funds for Home@LaSierra Endowment in the hopes of providing college home and educational opportunities for emancipated foster youth,” he continued. “In this feat of raising funds for La Sierra University, I felt even more driven to be part of this university community and movement for such causes. Everyone should have the opportunity to move and grow to meet their greatest strides for academic and personal success, to those still running behind the finish line.”