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Date:
Sat, Apr 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location:
6150 Graywood Parkway
Lake Charles, Louisiana
70605
United States
OpenStreetMap Google Maps
Links:
runsignup.com
Tags:
1 Miles 3.1 Miles 5k Run Virtual Walk

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.

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    118 West Mill Street

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    Route Description:

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    *Age based pricing of registration fees:

    Registrants 5 - 9 years old = $5 registration fee (shirt not included). Shirts may be purchased $20.

    Registrants 65 years and older = free registration (shirt not included). Shirts may be purchased $20.

    If you would like a shirt, purchase a shirt as an "Add-on" before checkout.

    Packet Pickup:

    House of Sole Running Shoes Friday, May 1, 2026 - 3113 Ryan St #3, Lake Charles, LA 70601

    • 12pm to 5:45pm

    Saturday, May 2, 2026

    • Where: parking lot of Lake Charles City Court,118 West Mill Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601

    • When: 6:00AM-6:30AM

    • Look for the blue Lake Area Runners tent in the parking lot.

    *Important note = Registered participants need photo identification. Proxy pickup is allowed for immediate family members, husband/wife/sibling, with identification.

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    6:00AM- Packet pickup and race day registration opens

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    T-Shirts:

    Short sleeved performance shirts are provided to registered participants (except your ages 5-9 years & 65+ years or older participant). Shirts are guaranteed to those participants who registered prior to Tuesday, April 15.

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    LAR's registration refund and cancellation policy:

    When you register for this event, you are making a non-refundable/ non-transferable decision.

    There are absolutely NO refunds, deferrals, or bib exchanges.

    Lake Area Runners does not issue refunds if the event is cancelled due to circumstances out of our control. This policy stays in effect in natural disaster, pandemic, whether you experience illness/injury/unexpected travel/emergency or other.

    We work incredibly hard to put on our races and we personally understand the training and hard work runners undergo, so the last thing we want to do is cancel a race.

    Cancellation:

    If we foresee dangerous conditions that warrant cancellations, we will update you via email and/or post onto @LakeAreaRunners and @LakeAreaRunnersForum sites on Facebook.

    Parking:

    No parking on West Mill Street in front of court house and Lakeshore Drive. Please be respectful to surrounding businesses and do not block entrances or exits.

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    • Volunteers should register on run signup.com by Thursday, April 30, 2026. If you have a group interested in volunteering, please email ajattack@gmail.com attn: 5 miler volunteer

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    The race will start and finish at...

    Swamp Stomp Half Marathon & 1 Mile Fun Run

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    The race will start and finish at Graywood Park located at: 3861 Gray Market Dr., Lake Charles, LA 70605. This course through the streets of Graywood Plantation subdivision offers plenty of opportunities for your friends and family to cheer you on along the course! There will be multiple of water stops and port-a-potties along the course. Stay for the after party! Free food provided by Bolton Ford, refreshments, fun/games, and music for all our runners and their families.

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    Packet Pickup

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    • When: 6:00AM - 6:45AM

    Race Day Schedule

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    6:00AM Packet pickup and race day registration opens

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    6:45AM Packet pickup and race day registration closes

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    6:00AM Packet pickup and race day registration begins

    6:45AM Packet pickup and race day registration closes

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    AWARDS

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    • Overall Male & Overall Female

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    T-shirts

    Short sleeved performance shirts are provided to registered participants. Shirts are guaranteed to those participants who registered prior to Sunday, November 22, 2026. Shirts may be purchased without registration for $25 through November 22, 2026. Click "Store" to purchase an additional shirt.

    Finisher's Swag: Medal & Jacket

    We are happy to continue our tradition of awarding medals & jackets to the FINISHERS!

    This means you must finish the race to receive your medal & jacket.

    Jackets will be available for pickup at the LAR tent near finish area.

    Want to guarantee your correct sized jacket?

    1. Register prior to Friday, November 22, 2026

    2. Complete the Swamp Stomp Half Marathon under 4 hours

    We have to make our orders early to guarantee they will be delivered on time for the race. You may check with us after the race to see if we have any extras, but we absolutely cannot guarantee we will have extra jackets in your size. There will be NO special orders for extra jackets or shirts! So hurry and sign up to guarantee yours before it’s too late!

    Lake Area Runner's Registration refund and cancellation policy:

    When you register for the this event, you are making a non-refundable and non-transferable purchase.

    There are absolutely no refunds, no deferrals, and no bib exchanges.

    Lake Area Runners does not issue refunds if the event is cancelled due to circumstances out of our control. This policy stays in effect in natural disaster, pandemic, whether you experience illness/injury/unexpected travel/emergency or other.

    LAR Board of volunteers work incredibly hard to put on our races. We personally understand the training and hard work runners undergo, so the last thing we want to do is cancel a race.

    If we foresee dangerous conditions that warrant cancellations, we will update participants via email through runsignup or post onto @LakeAreaRunners and @LakeAreaRunnersForum sites on Facebook.

    Parking

    Limited parking is available at the Graywood Golf club. No parking at the Graywood Racquet Club. Due to limited parking available in subdivisions and on the streets, we ask you to carpool! Please Do Not Park on the Grass!

    Volunteers

    Individuals wanting to volunteer or Organizations needing service hours, please register to volunteer on this website. Click on "Volunteers" on menu bar to complete registration. We are a small board and can use as much help with this long race.

    Here is a list of volunteer opportunities for this event.

    • Race packet pickup on Friday, December 11th, 12:30pm-5:00pm at TBD.

    • Race packet pickup & registration table on Saturday, December 12th, 6:00am-10:00am

    • Water spots and cheer spots on Saturday, December 12th, 6:30am-11:00am

    • Post race food and beverage servers on Saturday, December 12th, 7:30am-11:30am

    • Finish line assist on Saturday, December 12th, 7:30am-11:30am

    0 m from Lake Charles
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    OpenStreetMap Google Maps

    1 Miles 13.1 Miles Fun Run Half Marathon Run

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