We just received word that the 2018 The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championships, which were scheduled for this Saturday, November 17, have been canceled due to air-quality concerns. In iRunFar’s nine-plus years of covering races live, this is the first time a race has been fully canceled. Our hearts go out to those whose lives have been affected by California’s wildfires.

Poor air quality has been present in the region for days due to the large and destructive Camp Fire, located about 160 miles northeast of the San Francisco Bay Area in Butte County, California.

The race organization is donating the entire cash prize purse ($30,000), clothing, and the extra food and drink not being used for the event to firefighting and relief efforts.

Below is the race organization’s full announcement. You can visit the race’s website for the announcement, as well.

Thanks to The North Face, BUFF, and Jaybird for supporting iRunFar’s TNF 50 race coverage.