2013 was our inaugural year and exceeded even the wildest expectations. What began in February as an idea quickly developed into a full scale grassroots event by May! Over 500 people pre-registered online and many more signed up the day of the race! What was even more amazing was the turnout even though the weather refused to cooperate. We quickly learned the downside of open fields in Iowa as the winds whipped across the open area! Despite the 20 MPH winds and mid-50’s temps, the first annual Race for Hope Des Moines raised just over $25,000! Live music was provided by Opus Taylor and Brother Trucker. Click here for pictures (warning, it may take a bit to load the first time), or here for the official results for those who chose to be timed.
2014 was a great year in many respects. While there were still some kinks to work out, the overall flow and atmosphere was electric! The weather was much more cooperative which helped lift spirits as well. We had over 700 runners and walkers take part plus all their supporters cheering on the sidelines! This year we also included a kids fun run that was a blast to watch. A few superheroes even decided to make an appearance. This year we were excited to pair up with Dragon Master Foundation in addition to the National Brain Tumor Society. Dragon Master is a non-profit organization that is passionate about applying technology to brain tumor research and is working to create a centralized database for neurosurgeons and researchers. You can find out more about them here. Click here for 2013 pictures or here for results.
2015 was the best year yet! 750 people came together and collectively raised just over $35,000! The weather behaved again this year which was much appreciated. This year was also the first year the 5K course was USATF certified. It’s a considerable process to get certified and recognized but acts as a major value add to competitive runners. The National Brain Tumor Society and Dragon Master Foundation were the beneficiaries again this year and through events like this are able to make significant progress towards finding a cure. Pictures will be available shortly (they’re available on Facebook now) and results can be found here