Why We Run | Run For Hope 2026Why We Run | Run For Hope 2026
Finding Hope
Amy LaRue and Darcy Stevens reflect on Run For Hope 2026, sharing stories of families honouring loved ones lost to addiction and the impact of the memorial race. They highlight how the event breaks stigma, supports grieving families and funds ongoing recovery-focused meetings and retreats.
20:34•23 Sept 2026
Running for Hope: Honouring Lives and Breaking Stigma at Run For Hope 2026
Episode Overview
- Run For Hope 2026 honoured 160 lives and brought together 1,501 participants across five markets and a virtual event.
- Families wore buttons and carried posters featuring their loved ones, focusing on who they were rather than the disease that took their life.
- Teams and virtual participants from 15 states helped raise funds to support Finding Hope and Hope After Loss meetings, retreats and scholarships.
- Darcy shared how the race helps her children connect with the grandmother they never met and see her as more than her addiction.
- Amy and Darcy stressed the importance of breaking stigma by praying for people in active addiction and supporting their families instead of judging them.
“We get to remember them for who they are… not for this disease that may have took their life.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This episode of Finding Hope shines a light on Run For Hope 2026, a powerful mix of memorial, fundraiser, and family reunion for those affected by addiction. Host Amy LaRue and guest Darcy Stevens share a heartfelt recap of the event, which drew 1,501 participants across Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Weatherford, Colorado Springs, and a large virtual crowd from 15 states.
What starts as a 5K quickly becomes something much deeper as they talk about honouring 160 lives through the memorial mile, posters and the now-beloved photo buttons worn by families.
As Darcy explains, “we get to remember them for who they are… not for this disease that may have took their life.” You’ll hear how teams like “Speak Their Name”, “Zach Pack”, “Hope in Motion”, “Team Grinch” in Connecticut, and the Colorado Springs men’s homes turned grief into action, rallying friends, co-workers, and even pets to raise funds and show up in force.
There’s also the unforgettable moment of Brenton Scott bear-crawling a mile in the Oklahoma heat to raise scholarship money. Darcy shares how the race helps her honour her mum, who died in 2003 from addiction, and how her children proudly run with buttons and ask for their nana’s poster every year. Amy and Darcy talk about breaking stigma, praying rather than judging those in active addiction, and keeping meetings and retreats free or affordable through fundraising.
This episode speaks straight to anyone who’s lost a loved one, loves someone still struggling, or wants to support families in recovery. It’s emotional, honest, and full of little sparks of hope—because, as Amy reminds everyone, “you’re not alone. It’s not your fault. There is hope.” So, what might it look like for you to ‘run for hope’ in your own life, whether on a race course or in your day-to-day choices?
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