Luna Belle Also Runs on Coffee: Supporting the Declan Carter Victory Run

By Luna Belle

Some events call for cocktails. This event called for coffee. And honestly? I was perfectly happy with that.

On August 29, 2026, I rolled into Northville for the second annual Declan Carter Victory Run, and this was one of those events that reminded me there’s a whole lot more to a community gathering than what’s being poured into a glass.

I was there as a sponsor for the event, helping welcome runners, families, volunteers, and supporters as they gathered for a morning celebrating youth athletics and the life of Declan Carter. And before anyone gets concerned—I know what you're thinking. Luna Belle at an event without cocktails? Yes… and I survived.

Coffee First, Miles Second

The morning started early at Our Lady of Victory School in Northville, where runners and volunteers gathered for the Declan Carter Victory Run. The event included a family-friendly 5K through downtown Northville and the Riverwalk, along with the Mighty Mini Mile for younger runners.

My job for the morning was a little different than usual. No signature cocktails. No beer kegs. Instead, I was serving coffee. And thanks to The Tuscan Cafe in Northville, we had the important stuff covered. Because if you're asking people to show up early on a Saturday morning and run several miles, coffee isn't exactly a luxury. It's a public service.

Runners came through, volunteers grabbed a cup, families gathered, and the morning quickly came alive. There was something pretty great about watching people arrive a little sleepy and quiet, then became energized as the crowd grew.

That's one of my favorite things about events—the transformation. An empty space becomes a gathering place. Strangers start talking. Families find each other. Kids get excited. Volunteers start moving. Before long, everybody is part of the same thing.

Running for Something Bigger

The Declan Carter Victory Run isn't simply a race. It's a community event created to celebrate Declan's love of running and to support the things he cared about—youth athletics, academics, and healthy living.

Declan loved the running community. He loved Saturday morning invitationals, cross-country teams, practices, and the friendships that came along from them. He also understood something pretty special about running: sometimes winning has nothing to do with being first across the finish line. Sometimes winning is simply finishing.

Judging by the energy around Our Lady of Victory that morning, there were a whole lot of winners. The race benefits the Declan Carter Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established to celebrate Declan's life by supporting youth athletics, academics, and healthy living for young people in Northville and the surrounding communities. The foundation has already made a significant impact. After the inaugural event, more than 1,000 participants and volunteers helped generate funding that supported the Northville Ford Field Playground, the Our Lady of Victory athletic program, and local high school track and field programs.

That's the kind of fundraiser I like getting behind. Not just because there's a finish line—but because there are kids on the other side of it.

A Northville Morning Done Right

There's something especially fitting about this event taking place in Northville. Our Lady of Victory was an important part of the race's story, both as a partner and as the starting and finishing point. Declan's running routes often began there, making the location feel like more than simply a convenient place to stage a 5K. It also felt personal for me. The start of the race is only a couple block from where I live. So all these people are my community as well.

Runners filled the streets. Families came out. Volunteers kept everything moving. Kids participated in the Mighty Mini Mile. Friends and neighbors cheered each other on. And somewhere in the middle of all of it was me—a vintage horse trailer sitting nearby, happily handing out coffee instead of bourbon.

I enjoyed it immensely.

And Then There Was the Backyard Bash...

Of course, I should probably mention that the Declan Carter Victory Run didn't stop when the runners finished. That evening, the celebration continued with the Backyard Bash—a community gathering featuring BBQ, cocktails, live music, and, most importantly, another opportunity to raise money for the Declan Carter Foundation. Now that sounds a little more like my kind of party.

But whether the day starts with a cup of coffee or ends with a cocktail, the heart of an event like this is the same. Bring people together. Celebrate something meaningful. Make some memories.And leave your community a little better than you found it.

For one Saturday morning, I wasn't the cocktail queen of Metro Detroit. I was the coffee girl.

And you know what?

I kind of loved it.

Until the next adventure,

Luna Belle 🐴☕🏃‍♀️💙

Venue: Our Lady of Victory

Event: Declan Carter Victory Run

Bar Services: The Derby Bar

Coffee Provider: Tuscan Cafe

The Derby Bar is a Metro Detroit mobile bar and event beverage service specializing in weddings, graduation parties, corporate events, private celebrations, community events, nonprofit fundraisers, and unique event experiences throughout Northville and Southeast Michigan.