On Sunday, May 19, we held our first in-person Hope Travels 5K event.
We were so excited to reconnect with our community—from client Ambassadors to partners to volunteers—and make new connections as we came together to raise critical funds for our mission.
Over $45,000 Raised for Help Hope Live
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, participants, and donors, Hope Travels 2024 raised over $45,000 to support our mission.
Hope in Motion
Our 150+ in-person attendees included many members of the Help Hope Live community plus local individuals and families who were new to our medical fundraising mission.
Participants ranged from 5K veterans to first-time runners, local students, legacy Help Hope Live supporters, and parents introducing their kids to community fitness and fun for a cause.
Congratulations to our top two 5K finishers: Jake Lawson and Cecilia Castelli!
We were also grateful for the presence of several local organizations and in-kind sponsors: Amber Specialty Pharmacy, WestSide Wellness, MobilityWorks, YogaSix, Popcorn for the People, and Matia Mobility.
They got the chance to showcase their local impact and their connection to our mission at Hope Travels 2024.
We are so grateful to all the generous sponsors, in-kind sponsors, and partners who supported our event this year—meet them all here.
Full-Circle Moments
Our top fundraising team for Hope Travels 2024 holds a deep connection to our mission.
In January 2023, we shared that board member Bruce Ikeda had passed away following a life of immense impact and compassionate community support.
Bruce’s family rallied as Team Big Guy (Bruce’s nickname) to impact our mission with their powerful participation in Hope Travels 2024.
“He epitomized hope: the kind we strive to instill and provide to the families we serve.”
In addition to team members, board members, volunteers, and client Ambassadors, Help Hope Live co-founder Pat Kolff participated in Hope Travels 2024.
While our mission is national, Help Hope Live was founded right here in 1983 by Pat and her late husband, Dr. Jack Kolff, a Philadelphia heart transplant surgeon.
It was a full-circle moment seeing Pat and other founding supporters of Help Hope Live come together to celebrate our mission’s evolution.
Our Brand Champion Barrett Brooks
An unforgettable part of Hope Travels was the energy and authenticity that Barrett Brooks brought to our community as our newest Help Hope Live Brand Champion.
The former Eagle, host of Birds Huddle, and analyst on Eagles Postgame Live is already a beloved member of a community teeming with deep Philly sports pride.
Barrett took his community engagement a step further today—literally—as he personally congratulated Hope Travels finishers and handed out medals and high fives.
Khuwaylid’s New Adaptive Bike
A deeply meaningful moment during our Hope Travels event this year was the opportunity to gift a customized adaptive bike to 8-year-old Khuwaylid Seeney and his family.
Khuwaylid is a local student living with cerebral palsy resulting from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy at birth.
Like so many kids with disabilities, Khuwaylid loves to move, connect, and keep up with his siblings—but maintaining physical mobility can be a challenge.
Made possible by the Esther & Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation, this adaptive bike giveaway gives Khuwaylid a chance to access the outdoors, childhood joy, and meaningful daily exercise that can enhance his mobility and quality of life over time.
As his mom explained:
“This bike will give him that input to his legs that he absolutely loves while also giving him inclusion to just be a kid and ride his bike with his siblings.”
We were grateful to hear this feedback from Ceciry Rodriguez-Pimentel, the Director of Development & Community Engagement at Khuwaylid’s school:
“We are so happy for Khuwaylid. Thank you for making this incredible opportunity happen for one of our families!”
Humbling Feedback from Our Community
We were humbled by the positive feedback we received from our community about Hope Travels 2024. Here’s a small sample.
“What a great day!!”
“So much fun and such a great event! I would love to continue to help in any way I can!”
“Yesterday was a blast—please know how proud we are to be a partner of Help Hope Live.”
“We had a great time and are already looking forward to the next event with you and your team!”
Our Executive Director Kelly L Green put the cherry on top with her grateful feedback for our team and community:
“Together, we have made a positive impact on so many lives. I am confident this inaugural event will be remembered as a significant milestone for Help Hope Live.”
Let’s Stay Connected!
If you attended Hope Travels 2024 and would like to increase your impact with a donation, you can give online to keep our life-changing mission strong:
If you’d like to connect with us in-person at an upcoming event, view our calendar:
