Ele's Place - West Michigan Healing Hearts 5k

Join us on Sunday, June 7 at beautiful Millennium Park for the second annual Ele’s Place – West Michigan Healing Hearts 5K!

Let’s Run for Kids’ Grief Relief and support grieving children, teens, and families across West Michigan.

Ele’s Place provides peer-to-peer grief support for kids ages 3–18 who have experienced the death of someone important in their life—all completely free of charge, for as long as they need it.

This fun, family-friendly run/walk is a chance to move together, give back, and honor, celebrate, or remember someone special in your life who has died.

Every step matters—and helps ensure that no child has to grieve alone. 💙

See you at Millennium Park!

Event Schedule

9:30 AM – Event begins! Registration & Kid Zone open (face painting, obstacle course, yard games & more)
10:45 AM – Welcome & Mission Moment
10:50 AM – Kids Dash
11:00 AM – 5K Run/Walk and begins
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Kid Zone open; post-race snacks & drinks available

Your partnership is more than a sponsorship — it’s an investment in healing, hope, and a stronger community for grieving children and teens.

Every day at Ele’s Place, children and teens are met with the simple but life-changing reminder: you don’t have to do this alone. In our peer-to-peer grief support groups, kids are given space to share their story, honor their person who died, and connect with others who truly understand — all in a setting built on comfort, compassion, and belonging.

Because of generous supporters like you, our services remain 100% free of charge for families and schools across West Michigan, removing barriers and helping more grieving kids get the support they deserve.

Click to review the sponsorship information and see how your brand can be connected to our participants and mission.

REGISTRATION

What will I receive with my entry fee?  All in-person 5k participants receive their race entry and an event T-shirt. 

*Please note: the Kids Dash does not include t-shirts. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt for your child, please visit our online store. (Youth shirts and Memory Hearts are available in the online store.)  

• In order to guarantee that you receive a race t-shirt, you must register by Friday, May 8, 2026. 

• Memory Hearts will be available until we run out. 

• Can I change my T-shirt size after I have already registered? Shirt sizes may be exchanged by request (please email Kristy Ziegler at Kziegler@elesplace.org) until Friday, May 8, 2026, at 5:00PM. You can also call the office at 616-301-1605. 

Will I receive a refund if I am unable to participate? All proceeds go to benefit our grief support programs for children, teens and their families.  ALL sales are final.

Can I register on race day? Yes, registration will be allowed on race day beginning at 9:30 AM at the Grant Pavilion and concluding at 10:45 AM. Please note that the short program will start promptly at 10:45, Kid's Dash at 10:50 with the 5k race and 2-Mile walk beggining promptly at 11:00 AM. Be sure to arrive early in order to park and have time to register. Registration closes at 10:45 AM.

PRE-RACE

When is Packet Pick-up? Packet pick-up is available during two time slots on Friday, June 5, at the Ele's Place West Michigan office (11:00AM to 1:30PM and 4:00PM to 6:30PM. You can also pickup your packet the morning of the race, Sunday, June 7th. We kindly encourage you to pick-up your packet on Friday in order to avoid a last-minute rush the morning of the race. 

Packet Pick-Up Location: Friday, June 5, 2026. 

Ele’s Place - West Michigan 

2000 Michigan St. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Packet Pick-Up Dates/Times

Friday, June 5, 2026 - 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

and 

Friday, June 5, 2026 - 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Packet Pick-Up Location (Morning of Run/Walk): Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Millennium Park - Grant Pavilion

1400 Maynard Ave SW

Walker, MI 49534

Packet Pick-Up Dates/Times

Sunday, June 7, 2025.  (AT EVENT SITE) - 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM 

Will there be Race Bags?  Yes, drawstring backpacks are available for the first 200 who register for the walk/race. They will be available at packet pick-up.

Can I purchase a Memory Heart?  Yes!  Memory Hearts are available for $20 each.  They can be purchased in the on-line store and picked up at packet pick-up.  We encourage you to take them home, decorate them and bring them back the morning of the walk/run and place them in the "Memory Garden." They are also available for purchase the morning of the Race at Packet Pick-Up.   Don't forget to take them home after the race and place them in your yard or garden to enjoy all year long.

Can someone else pickup my packet? Yes. 

RACE DAY PARKING

Where will I be able to park? Parking is FREE and available to all participants and their cheerleaders. As a courtesy to all Race participants and parking volunteers, please do not speed once on-site and follow the parking signs to the designated parking area. There is enough parking for everyone.  

Can I leave immediately after finishing my race? Yes. We do encourage you to grab a snack afterwards from the snack table.

RACE

Where is the Race being held?  For the in-person event the Start and Finish line will be at Millennium Park at the Grant Pavilion. One time around is the 5K run and the 2-Mile walk starts and ends at the same time and location as the 5K. (It is just a shorter course.) The Kids 100- Yard Dash will take place starting at 10:50AM at the same spot as the beginning of the 5K. If you can’t join us in-person on Sunday, June 7th, we hope you’ll join us virtually and walk/run anywhere you choose!  

Will the race be timed?  No. We will not provide bibs or official timing chips. Please feel free to track your own time on your watch or phone! 

Will headphones be allowed? Headphones are allowed.    

Will refreshments be provided? Bottled water and snacks will be available for free to all participants at the pavilion.  Additionally, two water stations will be available on the course itself.  

EVENT CANCELLATION DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

Should the Ele’s Place - West Michigan Healing Hearts 5K be cancelled due to inclement weather, notification will be made as follows: on our event webpage: on the home page of our event race page on the RunSignUp website: on our automated telephone system at 616-301-1605, and via emails, texts and our social media pages, whenever possible.  If the event is to continue as planned, no notice will be sent. Due to the nature of being an outdoor event run by a nonprofit organization with the help of volunteers, if the event is cancelled due to inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstances that could impact the health or safety of participants, no refunds will be allowed. 

KIDS

Can kids participate in the race?  YES! If your child can do 3.1 miles, then register them for the 5K! If they prefer to walk or you have a stroller there is a 2-Mile option. There is also the short, fast and free Kids Dash for 3-6 year olds prior to the 5K that will be approx. 100-yards.  Please note, Kids Dash is FREE, but does not include a t-shirt.   If you would like to purchase a t-shirt for your child, please visit our online store. 

Are strollers or joggers allowed? Strollers and joggers are allowed but must provide right-of-way to other walkers/runners without strollers or joggers. Please be aware of your surroundings and stay to the right to allow runners to pass by you. There will be a staggered start and individuals with strollers or joggers will be in the last corrals.

RESTROOMS

Where will the restrooms be located? Restroom facilities are located on-site near the Pavilion. Two port-a-johns will also be available. 

MEDICAL & SAFETY

Where can I find medical assistance if I get hurt? There will be a basic first aid station on site. Please note that all our volunteers are here to help! Seek out a volunteer for assistance. 

If you are feeling ill, we kindly request that you stay home and rest. 

PETS

Can my dog run/walk with me? Yes! Please be courteous and keep your pet on a leash at all times and pick up any waste. 

AWARDS 

Will there be awards?  No physical awards but the sense of accomplishment and pride in your heart will be rewarding!

SPECTATORS

Will spectators be allowed to view the finish? Absolutely! We invite you to help cheer on all walkers and runners at the finish line!

PERSONAL BELONGINGS / LOST AND FOUND

Will there be a bag drop off at the race? No.  We have Race Drawstring Backpacks for the first 200 people to register for the race this year.  We encourage you to bring them with you the morning of the race and wear them so all your personal items are safe and secure.   If you prefer not to, please safely secure any valuables you have in your vehicle. 

If I’ve lost something, where can I find the lost and found? The Lost and Found area will be located at the registration/packet pick-up table. Please feel free to ask a volunteer if you have questions. 

FEEDBACK

How can I provide feedback? We will be sending out feedback surveys via email after the event. Your feedback is important to the success of our events and we appreciate it!

Packet pick-up is scheduled for the following dates, times and locations listed below:    

Ele's Place West Michigan

2000 Michigan St. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

616-301-1605

Friday, June 5, 2026 - 11:00AM – 1:30PM & 4:00PM - 6:30PM

Millennium Park - Grant Pavilion

1400 Maynard Ave SW

Walker, MI 49534

Sunday, June 7, 2026 - 9:30AM – 10:45AM

Please Note:

• To be sure to receive a race T-Shirt, you must register by Friday May 8, 2026.
• Drawstring Backpacks and Water Bottles are available for the first 250 people who register for the 5K Walk/Run.

RUN FOR FREE (or close to it!)

Want to make your miles matter even more? Sign up to Become a Fundraiser during registration and help support grieving children and teens at Ele’s Place. 

💙 Raise or donate $600 and your entire registration fee will be refunded (up to $25).*
That’s enough to support one child for a full year of grief services.

⭐ Go above and beyond: Raise $1,200 and also receive a commemorative Ele’s Place hoodie—our way of celebrating the incredible impact you’re making for grieving kids.

It’s easy to get started—just click the red “Become a Fundraiser” button when registering. You’ll get your own personal page to share with friends and family. We also have a Fundraising Toolkit that will give you access to social media tools to help you spread the word. 

 
Not ready to fundraise? You can still save on your entry:

Donate $300 → Get $25 back
Donate $100 → Get $10 back
Donate $50 → Get $5 back

(*Donation discounts must be made during registration. Processing fees not included.)