During a period that is seeing a boom in for-profit events, it becomes all the more important to pay attention into whose pockets all those hefty race entry fee dollars are going.

In light of which, did you know that the all-volunteer, sold-out Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay’s contributions to charity totaled more than $70,000 last year and are expected to be about $85,000 from this year’s race on Oct. 5? This year’s total includes $50,000 to the Robbie Foundation (for special-needs kids), plus an extra $4,355 that generous race registrants have tossed into the hat. A tidy $5,000 is going to the Dream Factory of Maine (which serves critically and chronically ill children), and the same sum is being donated to Camp Susan Curtis (for underprivileged kids).

The majority of race proceeds comes from entry fees, though there’s a fair amount of support from sponsors, headed by presenting sponsor Gorham Savings Bank. Also impressive is the Portland Sea Dogs’ robust support, to the tune of 4,300 game tickets, one for every runner and every volunteer, for a game in 2015 (when the Maine Marathon will pledge another $50,000 for the Robbie Foundation). And next time you collapse on one of the three new benches at the Back Cove parking lot, thank the marathon for its donation.

The day before the Maine Marathon, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine will host the fourth Kids Maine Marathon Mile. The mile is an out-and-back on the road beginning from the marathon starting line alongside Pedro Field, so the intersection and the race part of Baxter Boulevard will be closed to traffic. Start time is 1 p.m. The race is for ages 7-12, and there are T-shirts for the first 100 registrants (go to kidsmile.kintera.org). The fee of $10 goes up to $12 on the day of the race. There will be medals and prizes for the top three boys and girls.

Last year, Noah Knapton, 12, of Westbrook was top male in 5:41, and Portland’s Leeza Kopaeva, also 12, was top female in 7:04.

At 12:45, there’s an on-the-field, around-the-bases fun run for ages 4-6. And at 11 a.m., there’s an untimed Walk for Kids Sake around the Back Cove path. The entry fee is free for kids, and $20 for others.

All race proceeds benefit BBBS’ mentoring programs. You can raise money through the event website, and everybody who raises $100 or more will be entered into drawings for an iPad mini or a Kindle. Call 773-5437 for more info. …

Also turning 4 this year and coming up fast is a race to benefit a cause as worthy as any. The Grahamtastic 5K Run & Walk is set for 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, out of the Anderson Learning Center in Springvale. There’s a kids’ fun run, too, at 9 a.m.

Founded in 1998, nonprofit Grahamtastic supplies laptops and tablets to seriously ill children, to enable them to continue their education, keeping in touch with teachers and classmates despite the challenges of their medical conditions or financial limitations. The organization (to which the Maine Marathon donated funds for two laptops last year) has grown to serve 150 kids a year.

The adult entry fee is $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the race; age 13-17 is $15, kids 6-12 is $10, and families top out at $50. There are T-shirts for the first 150 entrants, and prizes that include Top Dog (accompanied by a person, of course). Go to grahamtastic.org for more info and to register.

Last year, 16-year-old Tristan Brown of Moody led 268 finishers, winning in 19:39, and Christine Snow Reaser, 47, of Dayton, won the women’s division in 22:45 (that’s a post knee surgery time for her). …

The Bar Harbor MDI Half Marathon saw its 37th running last Saturday and was mastered by Mike Mackinnon, 41, of Prince Edward Island in 1:16:21. Robert Ashby, 46, of Brunswick was second in 1:18:48. Women’s champ was Christine Twining, 39, of Brunswick in 1:26:34, 14th overall among 384 finishers.

John Rolfe writes about road racing for the Maine Sunday Telegram. He can be contacted at 791-6429 or at:

jrolfe@pressherald.com