9th Annual HOLDEN'S HOPE FOREVER 5K

9th Annual Holden's Hope Forever 5K & 1 Mile Race

Join us for the 9th Annual Holden's Hope Forever Race, where every step you take contributes to a meaningful cause! 

The Hope Forever 5K Race is a heartfelt gathering that honors the memory of precious lives while uniting our community in compassion and resilience. We invite you to get involved by sponsoring the event or forming a fundraising team with your friends, family, or colleagues. Together, we can create a day filled with love, remembrance, and support. Your participation as a sponsor or team member celebrates the lives of those we’ve lost and empowers families facing unimaginable challenges. Sign up today to be part of something truly special and make a lasting difference in our community!

Dedicated areas and tributes are woven throughout the race, creating a poignant atmosphere that honors the memory of precious babies. As you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, you’ll encounter heartfelt displays that remind us of the love and strength found in our shared experiences. These tributes unite our community in celebrating lives lived while providing unwavering support for families on their healing journeys. Your involvement will help keep these memories alive and foster hope and connection for those facing their own struggles. Together, we can make this event a powerful testament to love, support, and remembrance.

 

Registration Fees:

$35 Combo 5K & 1 Mile

$30 5 K

$20 1 Mile

$40 Virtual Run/Walk either distance*

 

Registration notes: 

• The Virtual Run/Walk is intended for those who live out of town, are sick, and/or are unable to join live; race times are not included in live race awards.

• This race does not charge a late fee. Online registration ends Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Race Day registration will be available from 7:00-7:45 AM for those who missed online registration.

• NO RACING FEE IS COLLECTED FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE PUSHED IN STROLLERS  

• We have a No Refund policy so please consider your registration a donation. In inclement weather, we will hold back start times for racing; i.e. waiting for the thunder to clear out. However, we hold race day rain or shine, and we will run in the rain! *Information regarding weather affecting race day will be communicated to all race participants, via email and text. 

• T-shirt deadline is April 8, 2026.

 

Race Day Schedule: 
7:00AM      Packet pickup and Race day registration opens

7:30AM     Opening Ceremony + Warm Up

7:45AM     Packet pickup and Race day registration closes

8:00AM     1 Mile Race Starts

8:30AM     5K Race Starts

10:30AM   Awards

11:30AM   Closing + Memorial Tribute Presentation

 

Awards:

Team Awards

• Largest Team - plaque 

• Best Team T-shirt design - trophy*

       (*submit your team shirt design by showing your race shirt to the registration table by 8:30am on Race Day)

• Team Fundraising Award - please see fundraising benefits page for more info.

 

Individual Awards: medals

5 Kilometers Race awards

• Overall Male & Female

• Overall Masters (ages 40-49) Male & Female

• Overall Grand Masters (ages 50-59) Male & Female

• Top 3 males & top 3 females in each of the following age groups: 7 years and younger, 8-11 years, 12-14 years, 15-19 years, 20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, and 60 years and older

 

1 Mile Race awards

• Overall Male & Female

 

T-shirts
Short-sleeved performance shirts are provided to registered participants. Shirts are guaranteed to those participants who registered prior to Wednesday, April 8, 2026. 

Shirts may be purchased without registration for $13 through March 25, 2026. Click "Store" to purchase an additional shirt.

Shirts will be sold on race day, with inventory available on a first come, first serve basis.

 

 

Fundraising Teams + Individual Fundraisers

Raising additional funds for this worthy cause as a team, individual, family or business corporate team!

Create a Team: during your registration process 

 

Post-race Ceremony Activities: We encourage friends and family to donate, walk, or run to support angel parents as well as Holden's Hope. Even if you do not plan to physically walk or run in the race, with the purchase of a $5 wristband attendees of all ages can enjoy food, drinks and post-race activities. Wristbands can be purchased the morning of the event or online. 

 

Social Media: Help us spread the word, raise awareness and build your team by tagging us on social media. Holden's Hope has a Facebook page. Also, use the hashtag #HopeForever2026 or #HoldensHopeForever2026 so that we can see and share your pictures!

 

Store Items:  Purchase as a separate item here or during your registration

 

Additional Race T-shirts: ($10 -$15 each) on race day, with inventory available as first come first served. You can also order additional shirts online by March 25, 2026 to guarantee the size(s) needed.

 

Race Tribute Signs ($25 each)
We are offering the option to purchase a tribute sign in memory of angel babies. Upon completion of your purchase, you will be contacted regarding details to design your tribute sign. The deadline to order is March 15, 2026.

Tribute signs are placed along the race routes. Only one tribute sign will be placed along the race route, but families are welcome to purchase more signs as they wish. Some families wish to hold or keep a sign.

 

 

 

 

PARTNERSHIP/SPONSOR DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2026

*Donations, sponsorships & paid registrations are tax deductible. 

The 1 Mile & 5K Race routes will take place within Graywood Neighborhood. 

5K Directions

 

Start/Stop - 6150 Graywood Parkway

Left - Willow Blvd.

Left - Willow Lake Dr.

Right- Fire Willow Dr.

Right - Willow Wood Dr

Right - Willow Ridge Dr

Left - Willow Blvd.

Left - Gray Market Dr.

Left - Graywood Pkwy.

Left - Jasmine Blvd,

Left - Lakeview Ln

Left - North Jasmine Dr.

Right - Jasmine Blvd.

Left - Graywood Pkwy

Left - Gray Market Dr. to Start/Stop

Hope Forever 5K & 1 Mile Race
ANGEL PARENTS | TEAM CAPTAIN GUIDE

WELCOME! We are so excited to gear up for the Annual Hope Forever Race with you!

 

It's a privilege and an honor to have you join us. Our Sponsors, Partners, Angel Parents, Teams & Race Participants are at the heart of success for this race! Each and every person plays an integral part, making this special event even more memorable and successful year to year.

Thank you for supporting the infant loss and NICU community. Thank you for gathering your family and friends, to come support you(!) as well as propelling this organization's mission forward. Thank you for loving others who stand shoulder to shoulder with you on race day, grieving too.

 

STEPS ON CREATING YOUR RUN/WALK and/or FUNDRAISING TEAM 

 

Step 1:           Go to the race registration website link:    https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/LakeCharles/HoldensHopeForever5K

 

Step 2:          To Create a Run/Walk Team

1. Click Register to race

2. Select the race(s) you will participate in + at the bottom of the page select "Would you like to join or create a team".

3. Next, you will agree to the race waiver.  ON the next page you will click on the Create a New Team tab. Once you enter the team name you will click on Continue.  On your Confirmation page you will receive a link for your Run/Walk team that you can send to your family and friends so they can register and join your team.

4. The option to set up a team fundraiser can be done at a later point in your registration process or at a later time (reference Step 3 below).  

5. Once you (team captain) are registered: your community of support can select "JOIN A TEAM" and pick your team's name during their own registration process to be a part of your Run/Walk team.

Important: should any team member miss the step to join your team, no worries! Please email our race timing company (Pelican Timing/Bertha Lanthier) at blanthier54@aol.com or email us directly at support@holdenshopeforever.org and we will take care of that detail for you. 

 

 

Step 3:           How to Create a Fundraising Team or Individual Fundraiser

1. The easiest way to get started is to click on Donate, then Become a Fundraiser, OR if you are registering for the race, it can be done on the 5th page which is the Donate page.  You can choose to "become a fundraiser" which allows teams to set goals to raise funds for the organization. You can become an "individual fundraiser," and/or a "team fundraiser".   If you are not ready to set up a team fundraising goal, you can surpass the option by clicking continue.

2. Scroll down to the section Become A Fundraiser: You can choose to become an INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER OR TEAM FUNDRAISER and continue by entering in the required information. 

3. Personalization: personalize your fundraiser's content as you wish! This is all about your why. 

The link to your fundraising page, which is generated after your registration is complete, offers options for you to share detailed information with others (such as a special photo, image and/or personal story about yourself/your loved one). Many angel families and teams who race, tie in a Team Name/Theme with a custom team shirt that they wear on race day. What is special to each team or angel family, can be used in this content to share with others as a fundraising tool. Corporate/Business teams are welcomed and encouraged as well. 

4. Share your Fundraising Link! 

Fundraising Ideas: selling a custom team shirt to your team members (to wear on race day), collecting additional donation dollars from team members or soliciting companies to sponsor the Holden's Hope race, are all ideas to generate and meet your fundraising goals. Sponsorship commitments are due by March 15th 2023 to count toward fundraising goals. 

5. Fundraising Incentives: see the Fundraising Benefits page for more information 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase as a separate item here or during your registration.

Additional Race T-shirts & Race Tribute Signs Available

Holden's Hope Forever 5K & 1M

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Graywood Park

The mission of Holden's Hope is to support families of infants who have long medical stays in the hospital, and families coping with miscarriages, stillbirths or the loss of an infant. Holden’s Hope serves families who reside within the parishes of Southwest Louisiana as well as Louisiana hospital NICU units.

Holden's Hope is a local Southwest Louisiana 501c(3) non-profit organization. 

 

1 Mile Run/Walk: T-Shirt

5K Run/Walk: T-Shirt

COMBO 5K & 1 MILE: T-Shirt

VIRTUAL RUN/WALK | FOR OUT-OF-TOWN SUPPORTERS: T-Shirt