Out of the Ashes 5k & Remembrance Walk

RACE-DAY DETAILS

October 17, 2026
East City Church, 6850 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, NC 28212
Race start: 5k at 5:00 p.m., 1 Mile Walk at 5:45pm
Closing ceremonies and Special Program: 6:30-8 p.m.

5K and  1 Mile Remembrance Walk entry fees:

Early Bird: $40 through August 7th
$45 through Oct 10th
$50 day before/day-of race
Kids under 10 can participate for free in the 1 mile Remembrance Walk, with no shirt.

Virtual race: $40

Become a Team Captain and lead a team in honor of a child or family. 
When you register simply select "create a remembrance team" to start a team and become a captain. For more information or to answer your questions on becoming a team captain, please reach out to paige@outoftheashes5k.com. 

Proceeds: Out of the Ashes Foundation

Our organization serves and supports couples and families who are grieving pregnancy loss and infertility.

• Creating and shipping care packs for newly-bereaved parents
• Growing the fund for our Medical Bill Relief Program, which covers medical bills associated with pregnancy & infant loss
• Facilitating faith-based support groups
• Hosting connection and community events
• Funding our new therapist-led Mentorship Program
• and implementing other new initiatives

RACE WEEK FAQs

Can I pick up my packet early?
Yes! Drop by on Friday, October 17th at East City Church (6850 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC) any time between 4:30–7:30 PM for early packet pickup and avoid lines on race day!

If you registered after 9/25 and aren’t guaranteed a t-shirt, all remaining shirts are first come, first serve. So this is the perfect time to come check in and secure one before race day!

**You can also register during this time in person for $50*

Can I still register on race day?
Absolutely! Same-day registration will be available for $50 at Zone 2 (look for the “Race Day Registration” tent). Invite your friends and family — it’s not too late to join us!

Can I do the run and walk?
Yes! Our run kicks off at 5 PM and runners will be finished, and course cleared, before the walk begins. The walk starts at 5:45 and is a great cool down for our runners to be able to join their families for the walk’s interactive experience. 

Is there a time limit for the 5K?
We ask that all runners be able to complete the 5K in 43 minutes or less in order to clear the course for the masses of walkers who will start promptly at 5:45 PM. 

Where should I park?
Parking will be available at: 

1. East Meck Main Lot
2. East Meck Sports Complex Lot
3. East Meck Bus Lot
4. Hendrick Lot on Conference Drive 

Follow parking volunteers and directional signage as you arrive. We will fill each lot in the order above. See the diagram below for parking locations:

Where do I check in on race day?
You will be assigned a zone that will be sent to you via email and text before the event. Follow signs to your zone when you arrive at registration

1. Zone 1 – For those who registered before 09/25
2. Zone 2 – For those who registered on or after 09/25 or plan to walk up and register on race day
3. Sponsor Check-In – Located at the tent next to the main stage

If you check in after 6 PM, you’re welcome to stay for the awards and program, but the walk portion will be closed.

Will there be food and drinks?
Yes! Many of our sponsors and vendors will offer FREE drinks and light snacks/desserts! We’ll also have 5 food trucks on-site with dinner available for purchase. 

Food truck lineup:

• Dollar Cone Icecream & Coffee
• Jalepeños Charlotte
• Playhouse BBQ
• Just a Burger CLT
• Chef Kenny’s Kitchen

Is this event kid-friendly?
Absolutely. We celebrate all children at this event — those with us and those waiting in Heaven. We’ve designed an event that encourages open conversation with your kids, and an environment that is fun and engaging. We will have a Kid Zone with face painting, fairy hair, bubbles, crafts, snacks, and more!

Strollers, bikes, scooters and dogs?
Strollers are welcome for both the run and walk, so bring your babes along for the ride! Because of the size of the crowd, we ask that you leave your pups and your wheels at home.  

Event Timeline:
3:45 PM – Registration Opens
4:00 PM – Festivities Begin 
4:30 PM – Warm-Up for 5K Runners
4:45 PM – Welcome & Balloon Release
5:00 PM – 5K Run Start
5:20 PM – Warm-Up for Walkers/Kids
5:45 PM – Walk Start
6:40 PM – Awards (Runners & Fundraisers) 
7:00 PM – Evening Program

Each year, our hope is that this race will be a place to remember and acknowledge every woman who longs to be a mother and every life gone too soon. Our race consists of both a competitive 5k run or an interactive Remembrance Walk (1 mile). The interactive element has markers every kilometer representing the infertility journey, miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss.

COMPETITIVE 5K
The route is mostly flat through a residential neighborhood. Roads will not be closed, so please be cognizant of driveways and neighborhood traffic. We will have a security vehicle at the front leading the runners. The route is 2 loops, with the second slightly shorter than the first. Please look for way-finding signs and volunteers to help direct you throughout the route. Awards will be given to top 3 finishers in each age category. 

REMEMBRANCE WALK
Along the route – at the different markers – you will see tables with candles and signs representing the stage of pregnancy. If you are walking in memory of a child gone too soon or a couple who longs to be parents, there will be space at each marker to honor that child or family. Many parents grieve these various losses in isolation, unsure of how to feel and unaware of shared experiences in their community. This event is a tangible picture of just how many families in our midst are affected by this type of loss.

AWARDS & CLOSING CEREMONIES
At the conclusion of the race, we will recognize top 3 finishers, male and female, in each age category for the competitive 5k and virtual run. We will also hear from a few speakers about their personal experience with pregnancy loss, early infant loss, and infertility. We hope this will be a sweet time to come together as a community and support each other as we remember the significant lives of those we’ve lost. We encourage all participants to stay for this part of the event. 

HOW THIS RACE WAS BORN
On October 23, 2019, founders Theo & Brittany Facinoli gave birth to their stillborn daughter, Hannah. She had died 2 days before at 29 weeks gestation. They only knew of two people – in their 31 years — who had experienced something like this before. But since then, they have watched many untold stories come into the light.

For those of us whose pregnancies ended before we could bring home our babies, it’s difficult to find ways to honor those precious lives. Many of us want to keep their memories alive, but the world around us keeps moving, leaving us alone in our grief. A lifetime seems like an impossible time to wait, but until we meet again, we will honor the life they had – in the womb or in the far-too-few moments on this earth.

We have learned that beauty will rise out of the ashes as we allow their significant lives – no matter how short – to have an eternal impact.

TEAM AWARDS

$1,000
Customized Team Button to wear at the event
A Team Yard sign along the route of the interactive walk

$2,000
Personalized Team T-Shirts

$3,000
Child's name added to our 2026 Wall of Remembrance + 5 Care Packs sent in honor of child

$5,000
Name a medical bill relief grant, which will be given to a newly-bereaved family in 2026.

$8,000 
Receive a custom memorial brick added to the Out of the Ashes Brick section at Our Children’s Memorial Walkway at Frazier Park. When Brick is installed, OOTA will host a “Brick Reveal Memorial” in your honor.

TOP 3 TEAMS

1st Place:

• Featured Family at our “A Good Pour” event in 2026 which includes:
• Professional video featuring your family
• Themed cocktail bar in your honor
• 1 of the 5 courses will honor your family
• Silent Auction basket in your honor
• Printed sign with your story
• Head Table with 10 VIP Tickets at the event

2nd Place:

• Printed sign with your story to be featured at our “A Good Pour” event in 2026
• VIP Table with 8 tickets at our “A Good Pour” event

3rd Place:

• Printed sign with your story to be featured at our “A Good Pour” event in 2026
• 2 General Admission tickets to our “A Good Pour” event (if over $10,000 is raised, you will receive 2 VIP tickets!)

INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER AWARDS

$2,500 – Name one of our Medical Bill Relief Grants

Top Individual: 2 VIP Tickets to our 2026 “A Good Pour” event

Isolation is one of the greatest obstacles to experiencing healing after child loss and along the infertility journey. One of our hopes is to see our community's bereaved families come to this event surrounded by their circle of friends and family. Last year, we launched the team aspect of this event and had 23 teams walking in honor of a family or in memory of a child.

Many people you're connected to may not know how best to support you as you walk through this life experience. Asking them to join your team or donate to your team's page offers an opportunity for them to support you and be present in your journey. So get your friends, small group, church family, coworkers, and family members together to run, walk or donate to support your team!

REGISTER & CREATE A TEAM »

See other team pages »

When you go to register, you will be asked if you want to join or create a remembrance team. Please email paige@outoftheashes5k.com if you have any questions or need assistance!

QUICK VIDEO ON HOW TO SET UP A TEAM PAGE »