06/08/2026
What a day. ๐
To every runner, walker, volunteer, sponsor, law enforcement officer, vendor, donor, and supporterโthank you.
The 16th Annual Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K was made possible because of you. Every step taken yesterday helped us honor our fallen heroes, support those who continue to serve, and further the mission of the James & Derek Hotsinpiller Memorial Foundation.
We are incredibly grateful for this community and the love you continue to show our family and our mission.
This year, more than 1,100 participants registered to run with us. Together, you represented all 50 states and 12 countries, proving once again that the DHFS5K family reaches far beyond West Virginia. That kind of support is something we never take for granted.
While we didnโt quite reach our goal of all 55 West Virginia counties this year, runners from 39 counties joined us, and weโll be chasing that goal again next year. We canโt wait to see how many more communities we can bring together in 2027
Our DHFS5K family is truly remarkable. Itโs hard to find the words to express what you all mean to us. Year after year, you show up with generous hearts, unwavering support, and a commitment to honoring those who have served and sacrificed. We are humbled by it, inspired by it, and endlessly grateful for each and every one of you.
Thank you for helping us Paint Bridgeport Blue and for ensuring that a hero remembered never dies. ๐
We are still working our way through photos, videos, and all of the wonderful moments from race day. Please bear with us as we catch our breath and begin sharing more of your smiling faces over the coming days. Just know that we see you, we appreciate you, and we are so thankful you chose to spend your day with us.
๐