Hospice Hope: Walk, Run & Bike
Hospice Hope: Walk, Run & Bike
Registration now open for 29th annual event
ALLEGANY - Registration is officially open for HomeCare & Hospice Foundation’s 29th Annual Hospice Hope: Walk, Run, & Bike, presented by DataBranch. This year’s event will take place Wednesday, May 14th in Downtown Olean, with Lincoln Park serving as the new event headquarters. Registration is $35 per person and can be completed online at oleanhospice.itsyourrace.com.
Participants have three ways to join in the fun while supporting hospice care: Run the 5K course; Walk the 2.34-mile route; or Bike the 8.38-mile path. In addition to your entry fee supporting hospice care, you can boost your impact by gathering pledges from family and friends - no paper forms needed! Our easy-to-use online platform through “It’s Your Race” allows you to create a personal fundraising page and track pledges.
“When you participate in our Hospice Hope event, you’re not just walking, running, or biking - you’re helping patients and families experience comfort, dignity, and special moments during life’s final journey,” shared Melissa Sullivan, HomeCare & Hospice CEO. “Your entry fee alone makes a difference, but every pledge helps provide those extra touches insurance doesn’t cover, like arranging a special outing or fulfilling a last wish.”
What’s new for 2025?
• New Location: This year’s event will take place in Lincoln Park in Downtown Olean - everything starts and finishes at the park!
• New Day: We’ve shifted from a Saturday to a Wednesday. Why? Everyone’s weekends are packed, so why not mix things up and make it a midweek feel-good break?
• Official Race Timing: Yes, it’s a fundraiser first and foremost, but we know our participants like chasing personal bests, too!
• Your registration fee covers your event entry, an official event baseball cap, a charcuterie-inspired race snack pack, and something to “wet your whistle” at the finish line.
Want more swag? Easy! Participants who fundraise unlock additional race goodies: $50 in pledges = Hospice Hope Tee; $150 in pledges = Race Long Sleeve Shirt; $300+ in pledges = Quarter-Zip Lightweight Pullover. Prefer to skip the fundraising and still snag the swag? You can add items to your cart during registration! Funds raised directly benefit the HomeCare & Hospice Foundation, ensuring patients and their families receive compassionate care and meaningful experiences. Beyond covering medical needs, donations help fulfill heartfelt wishes - like one recent patient who simply wanted to bowl one last time at her favorite alley. Because of support like yours, she spent a joyful day surrounded by family, rolling one final game and making cherished memories. “This is the heart of hospice - ensuring every patient can find peace, comfort, and fulfillment in their final days,” added Sullivan.
Teams are welcome! Whether you’re a corporation, organization, or family, you can register as a team for fundraising or simply sign up under a team name. The system is super user-friendly - perfect for encouraging a little friendly competition.
Interested in sponsoring? Opportunities are still available for course signage, after-walk festivities, and more. Confirmed sponsors to date include: DataBranch (Presenting Sponsor), Community Bank NA & Siemens Energy (Timing Sponsors), RPJ Ready Print (After Walk Fest), Paul Brown Chevy (Timing Sponsor) and Hedley Brook Agency (Signage Sponsor).
Voluntters also needed. Whether it’s helping with registration, refreshments, course flagging, or race sweeping, we’d love your support! For more information on registering, volunteering, or becoming a sponsor, call 716-372-2106. Help HomeCare & Hospice keep dreams fulfilled - One step, pedal, or stride at a time.