Hope & Hearts Run/Walk FAQs

1. Do I need to know someone who has experienced a loss, infertility or adoption in order to participate?

No, not at all. The goal of the Hope & Hearts Run is to promote public understanding and advocate for families to ensure they get the support and resources needed for pregnancy/infant loss, infertility and adoption as well as the access to comprehensive, patient-focused prenatal care. 
Whether you have experienced a loss, infertility or adoption challenges, know someone who has or just want to show your support, come and join us to give hope a voice.

2. How can I find out of there is a Run in my area?

The Missing GRACE Foundation is looking to grow the event in states all over the country. Click on Hope & Hearts in YOUR State to learn more about starting a Run/Walk. If you are interested in hosting the event in your state, please contact the National Hope & Hearts Run Directors: Heather and Chad Hemphill
Email: heather-hemphill@comcast.net
Email: chadhemphill@comcast.net
Click on 'Event Info' to Find a Run/Walk in your area.

3. Not everyone in my family can run or walk. Are they still able to participate?

Yes! The Hope & Hearts Run is open to participants of all ages. We love to see lots of strollers and baby carriers for the little ones too. There are places to sit down, relax and watch the excitement. If you cannot walk or run, please be a member of the cheering section and cheer on the runners and walkers as they go by.

4. I’d like to volunteer at the Hope & Hearts Run. How do I get involved?

For information on volunteering at the event, please contact us at volunteer@missinggrace.org.

5. Will there be awards/prizes given at the run?

Yes. Prizes will be given to:
1. 5K Run Top Male Finisher
2. 5K Run Top Female Finisher
3. Top Team Fundraisers (most funds raised by a team)
4. 2nd Place Team Fundraisers
5. 3rd Place Team Fundraisers
6. Youngest Top Fundraiser (17 years and younger who raised the most funds)

6. Do I need to register my child if they are not participating in the Kids' Fun Dash but walking along with me?

Registration is only required for children 12 and under who are participating in the Kids' Fun Dash. Otherwise, children can participate in the walk with a parent and will not need to register. All children, whether registered or not, must still have a waiver form filled out and signed by a parent or guardian at the event. Children ages 13 to 17 need to register in order to participate in the 5K Walk or 5K Run and will need to pay the general registration fee that applies.

7. Can I bring my dog with to run or walk with me?

Yes! All are welcome to bring along their “best-friend” pooch. Please be aware that the city of Anoka County Parks require that your dog is on a leash and that you bring a bag to clean up any deposits made.

8. What happens if it rains the day of the event?

Hope & Hearts Run takes place rain or shine. Of course we are all hoping for great weather…but if it does happen to rain, we will provide rain ponchos for participants!

9. Where on the shirts can we include the name of our baby in heaven?

On the backs of the shirts there is a box to write the name or names of babies whom you are honoring as you walk or run. Supplies are provided at the event to stamp the letters with fabric safe ink and fabric pens are also provided.

10. I am running / walking to support Missing GRACE, however I am not doing so in honor of a baby. Do you have an alternate shirt option for me?

Yes, we have 2 shirt options: Option 1 says “I am honoring the memory of” this T-shirt includes a box below this saying where people can fill in a name, and the Option 2 T-shirt has has an alternative saying on the back for those participating for reasons other than in remembrance of a baby.

11. What age can children participate in the Kids' Fun Dash?

Ages 12 and under. For smaller children, parents are welcome join their child in the Kids' Fun Dash if the child will need assistance in order to participate.

12. What is the cost for kids to participate in the Kids' Fun Dash?

$8.00 when pre-registered and $10.00 if registering on event day. Children who are registered for the Kids' Fun Dash will receive a free event ribbon and T-shirt if pre-registered by the given deadline.

13. What is the cost for kids to participate in the Memorial Walk and the 5K Run?

Children 12 and under do not need to register and pay if participating with a registered adult in the 5K events. However, to receive an event t-shirt, they must be registered. Teens ages 13-17 need to register and pay the general registration fee of $25.00 pre-registered/ $30 event day.

14. Do I have to register and pay for all my children to participate?

Any child participating in the Kids' Fun Dash must have a parent or guardian who will register, pay and sign their waiver. Children 12 and under who are not participating in the Kids' Fun Dash and are simply walking with a registered adult in the 5K event do not need to register and pay.

15. Can I go online and register all my friends and family who are joining me on my team on event day? If so, can I do this either online or by mail-in registration?

Yes! Signmeup Online Registration allows one person to register as many team members as needed. You will have to be prepared however, to make one payment for all the people you are registering in that particular online submission. A team organizer who is running or walking in the event can also register their team members by mailing in the registration forms for all the members on their team along with the individual checks for everyone on their team.

Here are 4 examples of ways to register your team or for people on your team to register and participate:

Example A: I click on the Register Online link on the Hope & Hearts site. Follow the prompts and it will walk you though registering your whole team! I pay with my credit card for all the registrations and collect my individual team member's registration fees to reimburse myself for their registrations that I paid for online. We can all check-in together at the onsite Registration Station between 7am and 8:50am (best to designate a specific time and spot to gather at the site). Or we can check-in individually on event day as people from my team arrive at various times. Everyone will need to sign their own waivers when they check-in onsite.

Example B: I have 10 people who want to walk with me. I fill out and send in their 10 completed registration forms that I print off from this site. The have given me their individual personal checks for $25/ person x 10 people = $250.00. I will submit with their registration forms and all of our checks mail them all together. Everyone will need to sign their own waivers when they check-in onsite. We will all pick up our T-shirts when we check-in and proceed to the T-shirt Stamping Station to personalize our T-shirts.

Example C: I have 10 people who want to walk with me. I have collected all their completed forms and waivers and I am providing one check to Missing GRACE Foundation for $250.00. I am paying for everyone on my team to join us and am mailing in all their forms along with my single check.

Example D: I have 10 people who want to walk with me. They have all registered online on their own through the our Hope & Hearts Online Registration with Signmeup and have also created online fundraising pages for our TeamGrace through www.firstgiving.com/hopeandheartsrunmn. Our total amount raised through all our individual online fundraising pages will be linked together for TeamGrace to help us collectively achieve our team fundraising goal. We will meet at a designated time and spot at the event and go to the Registration Station to check-in together and sign our waivers. At the event we will all walk or run together and we will be wearing our own team shirts we made just for our team and this occasion.

Do we need to bring our own balloons for the balloon release?

The balloons are provided by Missing GRACE Foundation at the event. We blow them up and provide Sharpie pens to write messages to your babies on the balloons.

Isn't it bad for the environment to do a balloon release?

We are very conscientious about the care and well-being of our environment and therefore have made sure that our balloon releases are done with 100% biodegradable material and the string is a 100% cotton string that also is fully biodegradable. We also recycle all the water and juice bottles from our events and are careful to leave the event location even better than we found it (picking up all trash, etc.)