The Hope & Healing Place 3rd Annual Half Marathon on Sunday, May 12th, 2013 (Mothers Day) was a success! Hundreds of runners participated in the run, both in support of HHP and in remembrance of loved ones. A big thanks to our supporters, volunteers, runners, walkers, joggers and skippers. 

We look forward to our 4th Annual Half Marathon in a year, so start your training now. And don't forget to come by and visit us at The Hope & Healing Place for a tour (1721 S. Tyler) and for more information about our services, volunteer opportunities and more.

AT 5AM on Monther's day our course volunteers began marking the 13.1 mile course.
At 6:00AM both runners and event  volunteers began arriving at the Start/Finish area at Amarillo National Bank. 
At 6:30AM Amarillo Police officers and Potter traffic volunteers begin going over the course intersections and how to keep our runners and walkers safe.
At 7:00AM we celebrate who runners and families, short prayer of thankfulness, and "Runners Start" is yelled.
At 8:15 the first male crosses the Finish line. About 8:40 the first woman crosses the Finish line. 
We cheer each finisher along with their family and friends. 
Some finish strong......Others are weary but determined. Our 4 massage tables are full and helping sore muscles.
At 9:30 we call out award winners by age, gender, run category of individual, 2 person, or 4 person team. 
Winners receive HHP birdhouses painted by our children and volunteers. HHP birdhouses are of high value to our runners and their children.
By 10:30 all but our last walkers are finished and volunteers are tearing down the event. 
At 10:31 our event volunteers are already planning Mother's Day Half Marathon 2014!!!

The Half Marathon volunteers are getting ready for you and your cheerleaders.

Those setting the course will be on the streets at 5:00AM Sunday.
Runner packet pick-up will be at Hope & Healing Place, 1721 S. Tyler on Friday evening (4:00 - 6:30) and Saturday (10:00 to 2:00).  When you are there be sure to give us 6 minutes for a tour of our child, teen, and family grief & loss center. You will be pleased to support our mission.....promise!

Runners and Walkers registration will be ready between 6:15 and 6:30AM. We will greet every runner and walker with "Glad You Are Here" smiles.
At 6:30AM our water stations will be set-up with water/quick grab snacks. There will be medical staff at Western Hill water station and at the Start-Finsh line at Amarillo National Bank, downtown parking area. Security will be at the Start-Finish throughout the run.

At the Awards Ceremony the runners who are first in their age and gender brackets will receive a hand painted Hope & Healing Place birdhouse, our child and familly symbol of healing from a family or peer death.

So, we ready for you and 300 more!! See you early on Mother's Day, May 12.....& Thank You!!

Hope & Healing Place is a grief and healing center serving children, teens, and families.
We host our 3rd Half Marathon on Monther's Day, May 12, 7:00am.
So many volunteers and businesses come together to make this 3rd annual Mother's Day run and walk special for everyone.
Amarillo National Bank     Maxor National Pharmacy     Wiley Hicks, Jr., Inc, General Contractors
Texas Oncology     Axigent Technologies Group     Underwood Law Firm     Brown Subaru
Golden Spread Redi Mix      Carol & James Hicks     Top O' Texas Oilfiend Services
There is no 3rd Annual Mother's Day run without members from Lone Star Runner's Club or the Amarillo Police Department and traffic control volunteers from both Potter and Randal Counties.

So many family members, friends, and business supporters are at our water stations throughout the course. There will massage therapists who donate their talent to ease sore muscles. And more great people and supporters who work for months to talk to sponsors, mark the course, be companions to everyone.
Most importantly are our runners and walkers who praise the course and make it all hapen to sustain our grieve and healing services. All apart of healing the heatt of a child. A special Mother's Day....A special partnership.
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Can I walk the 13.1 miles?
Yes. We have individuals, 2 person & 4 person teams who walk the course.

If I finish high in my age / gender group what do I win?
The Hope & Healing Place symbol is a painted birdhouse.
You will receive a HHP birdhouse hand painted by our children & volunteers.

Are there medial staff on the course?
Yes. There will be a physician mid-course and at Start/Finish line.

How can my work or civic group support the Half Marathon?
Volunteers always needed at water stations, run set-up & tear down, and
cheering our runners and walkers onward! Any business or civic group can still be
a Mile Marker sponsor for $200. Just contact us and we will make it happen.

How do I and my friends sign-up?
Go to Active.com. Easily done and our 3rd year with this good site.

Will I be safe at traffic intersections?
Yes, we have Amarillo Police officers and other trained traffic volunteers at key
intersections throughout the full 13.1 miles of the course.

I keep seeing HHP. What is HHP?
HHP stands for Hope & Healing Place, A Grief, Loss, & Trauma Center serving
the TX Panhandle Our mission is to provide a variety of grief support groups for
children, teens, families, and individuals. There is no limit for healthy grieving.

The run / walk Panhandle spring calendar is full of 5K's, 10K's, fun and famly walks, and more,
The Hope & Healing Half Marathon is unique because of our nationally certified course and highly enjoyable course, traffic protection to runners, and the opportunity to say "Yes" to healing the heart of a child or Remembering someone so very special to you and your family and friends.

The half marathon is our only sponsored fundrasing event.
At HHP there are no fees for any services, at anytime.
Our sponsors, runners, and walkers makes thiis possible.
In this way each runner...each walker is a mission partner with our grief, loss, and trauma services.
So, Hope & Healing is a stand-out service site and our half marathon is a stand out Mother's Day event....come run, come walk...come cheer others. Welcome to Hope & Healing!!

Yes, runners and walkers make up the main part of a Marathon or Half Marathon.
Another Yes is for the children, spouses, and friends who cheer our runners and walkers onward through the 13.1 miels of a Half Marathon.
Hope & Healing has cheerleaders and families at each water station on the course.
Each cheers on their sonn or daughter, husband or wife, peer or friend.
In grief, which is our mission, we say  over and over "You do not travel this path alone."
So it is iwth the Half Marathon.
Come, cheer, be a mission partner with Hope & Healing to heal the heart of a child.
 

Hope & Healing Place a is grief , loss, and trauma center serving children and families and peers who have experienced a family or friend death.
So why for 3 years has HHP held a Half Marathon on Mother's Day???? This years run wil lbe on May 12, with Start at 7:00am, from the parking area of downtown Amarillo National Bank.
Many who call us in the difficult days following a family death first ask "how much will this cost?"
   They are surprised when we are able to say "There are no fees."
   This does not mean there are no costs or expenses in having accessible supportive services basically 365.

The HHP Half Marathon first has a nationally certified and visually inspired course. 
   Runner like running through historic Wolflin...over to Avondale...down 6th Street....and back into downtown.
Our "runners" can also be walkers....many times our walkers are 2 and 4 person teams who are "Remembering" a loved one."
So, run or walk with 300+ on Mother's Day!!!
Register on Active.com.
Support HHP's mission to heal the heart of a grieving child and family.