Kenai Walk & Roll for Hope

 
You're invited to our annual
Kenai Walk & Roll for Hope
Saturday, May 10, 2025
11:00am - 2:00pm
Kenai Community Center, Soldotna
 

 

Register to Walk Become a Sponsor Donate Share
 
Register by April 4 and receive a 20% early bird discount.

 

The 2025 Walk & Roll for Hope

The Walk & Roll for Hope is an annual tradition that brings the community together to support Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Participants will take a scenic stroll, and along the way you'll enjoy surprises and tasty treats from some of Anchorage’s best local restaurants. Once back at the Park Strip, we will celebrate with live music, delicious food, games, and family fun!

This year’s theme, "Hope Starts Here: Bee Kind," highlights the importance of kindness and ensuring that children with disabilities and complex medical needs receive care and support right here in Alaska. Rather than being sent out of state to institutions, they deserve to stay in their home communities, surrounded by their families and the resources they need to thrive. By supporting Walk & Roll for Hope, you are helping to build a future where every child can remain in Alaska, receiving the care they need close to home. Our goal is to raise $60,000 or more, so every dollar counts!

 

Kenai event details

 

How you can support the Walk & Roll for Hope

We rely on your participation to provide necessary funds to support Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, or mental health challenges. Join Hope on Thursday, May 15, as we celebrate the strides made over the past 55 years and renew our commitment to a future where all Alaskans with disabilities have full access to the supports and services necessary to lead meaningful lives.

Reaching our fundraising goal of $10,000 will make an impact in helping keep children with complex medical needs in Kenai by funding essential services, resources, and advocacy efforts. This amount will help fund in-home care, therapy, and specialized medical equipment that allows children to remain with their families rather than being placed in out-of-state institutions. It will allow Hope to invest in training for local direct support professionals to support children with complex needs. It will help to develop local residential and support programs to prevent the need for out-of-state placement. And it will strengthen our efforts to improve policies and secure additional funding to create long-term solutions for keeping families together in Alaska.

 

 

 

History of the Walk & Roll for Hope

Prior to Alaska’s statehood, people who experienced intellectual or developmental disabilities faced limited services and, in some cases, institutionalization. Mental illness was once misconceived as a crime, leading to the relocation of Alaskans in need to distant facilities like Morningside Hospital in Oregon. By 1942, more than 2,000 Alaskans—including very young children—were living there, separated from their homes and communities.

Since its inception in 1970, the Walk for Hope has been a powerful reminder of the ongoing work needed to create a more inclusive and supportive community. The first Walk for Hope was a pivotal moment in Alaska’s history, bringing nearly 4,000 people together to advocate for children with disabilities to return home from out-of-state institutions. Today, while much progress has been made, many families still face barriers to accessing the services they need. This event continues to raise awareness and funds to support individuals with disabilities in leading fulfilling lives in their own communities.

Fifty-five years later, the Walk for Hope has continued as an annual reminder of the ongoing work still to be done. While progress has been made, challenges persist. As long as even one person with a disability has to wait for services, as long as one child in need of mental health support is sent out of state due to lack of local resources, and as long as accessibility barriers persist, Hope will continue to walk (and roll) to raise funds to meet those needs.

 

Thank you for supporting this event and making a difference!

Register to Walk Become a Sponsor Donate Share

Every step, every roll, and every dollar counts!

 

Questions? View our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact our Kenai Administrative Assistant at 907-420-3600 or [email protected].

 

 

Thank you to our event sponsors!