About the Iowa Hope Run: A Community-Led Race for Hope

Our Mission

Since 2013, Iowa Hope Run has evolved from Race for Hope DSM, inspired by a community’s commitment to support those affected by brain tumors. Each May, we bring together runners, caregivers, survivors, and supporters to raise awareness, fund vital research, and walk united in hope.

Our Story

Founded in 2013 as Race for Hope DSM, this event began as a grassroots effort in Des Moines—driven by volunteers, families, and survivors who wanted to do something meaningful in the face of a devastating diagnosis. Year after year, the community showed up, turning a local run into a powerful movement of hope.

As participation and support grew beyond Des Moines, we recognized the opportunity to better reflect the scope of what this event had become. In 2026, we rebranded as the Iowa Hope Run—not to change our mission, but to expand it. The heart of the event, the leadership, and the purpose remain the same; the name now reflects the statewide community that has always supported it.

Today, Iowa Hope Run continues as a volunteer-led, community-driven event held each May, bringing together runners, walkers, families, and supporters across Iowa to make hope visible and impactful.

Why This Matters

Brain tumors affect more than 100,000 individuals in the United States each year, and nearly one million Americans are currently living with a brain or central nervous system tumor. A diagnosis often arrives suddenly and brings with it uncertainty, long treatment paths, and emotional and financial strain — not only for patients, but for entire families. Brain tumors remain among the most complex and deadly forms of cancer, causing approximately 18,000 deaths annually, yet progress toward new treatments remains slow.

Iowa itself faces significant cancer challenges. More than 1 in 20 Iowans have been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and our state consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for new cancer cases. While not every cancer is a brain tumor, these broader patterns underscore a shared reality: families across Iowa are touched by serious diagnoses every day and are in constant need of support, awareness, and hope.

Across Iowa, families face the impact of brain tumors every day.

The burden is especially heavy for children and young adults. Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children ages 0–14 and remain one of the most significant causes of cancer death among adolescents and young adults. Pediatric brain tumors present unique challenges that extend far beyond treatment, affecting childhood development, education, and long-term family stability.

Despite their devastating impact, brain tumors receive a disproportionately small share of research funding. There are more than 100 different types of primary brain and central nervous system tumors, yet for aggressive tumors such as glioblastoma, treatment options remain extremely limited. At the same time, many families struggle with limited awareness, gaps in resources, and few opportunities to connect with others who truly understand their experience.

The Iowa Hope Run exists to help close this gap — by raising awareness, mobilizing community support, and directing meaningful funding to organizations working every day to improve outcomes, expand research, and support patients and families throughout their journey.