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.
- Sign up. Register to walk or roll with us on May 15 and be part of this community event. Registration fees go toward supporting essential services for Alaskans with disabilities and give you an all-access pass to a fun-filled evening of connection, celebration, and impact.
- Donate. Every donation—big or small—helps provide essential care and support for children and adults with disabilities in Alaska. Your contribution will directly fund Hope's program that keeps families together and ensures children receive the services they need close to home.
- Fundraise. Take your support a step further by raising funds for the cause. Raise $100 or more and receive a free commemorative Walk & Roll for Hope t-shirt. Raise $200 or more and receive your choice of either a t-shirt of a free commemorative hoodie. Raise $300 or more and receive both! Plus, for every $100 you raise by noon on Friday, May 2, you will receive an entry into a drawing for two round-trip tickets to any destination Alaska Airlines flies. (The registration fee is not included in fundraising.) View our Fundraising Toolkit for guidance on how to maximize your fundraising efforts.
- Invite friends and family to participate. Multiply your impact by encouraging others to join you. Whether they walk, roll, donate, or cheer from the sidelines, every participant strengthens our community and helps spread awareness about the importance of inclusive services in Alaska.
Reaching our fundraising goal of $75,000 will make a significant impact in keeping children with complex medical needs in Alaska 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. By 1942, more than 2,000 Alaskans—including very young children—were living at Morningside Hospital in Oregon, separated from their homes and communities. 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. More than five decades later—while a lot of progress has been made—the Walk for Hope continues as an annual reminder of the ongoing work still to be done. As long as even one person with a disability has to wait for services, as long as one child in need of 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 Hope and making a difference!
Let’s walk. Let’s roll. Let’s rally together—because hope starts right here in Alaska!
Questions? View our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact our Event Coordinator, Cyndi Ramirez, at 907-433-4910 or walkforhope@hopealaska.org.
Cierra Thomas