We Run for Hope 2025

This year, #WeRunForHope has a new meaning for Ashley, Lizzie, and their friends and families in Wisconsin. Hope Bretting, Ashley’s lifelong friend and Lizzie’s sister-in-law, passed away in January after being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma several years ago. 

In 2022, Hope asked her dear friends Ashley and Amanda to run a marathon with her to check it off of her bucket list after her diagnosis. They gladly accepted and raised over $6,400 for cholangiocarcinoma research. In 2024, Ashley and Amanda reran the marathon with Hope cheering them on. With the help of their incredible community, they raised over $25,000 for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation in honor of Hope. 

This is the first year that Hope is not here to cheer her friends on as they run the 27th Annual Tamarack Health WhistleStop Marathon and Half-Marathon on October 11th. Ashley and Lizzie hope to continue the momentum in her memory. They are courageously pushing forward and building a team of runners to raise even more money to support cholangiocarcinoma research and important programs for patients and caregivers. Hope’s brother, Alex, will also be running his first marathon this year in memory of his sister. Alex told Ashley, “If Hope can endure what she did with cholangiocarcinoma, I can put myself through 26.2 miles.” Ashley also shared that Hope was always thinking of others. She had strength and positivity through her final days, even knowing she wouldn’t be around much longer. 

We are incredibly grateful to Ashley, Lizzie, Alex, and their family and friends for having the strength and determination to continue sharing Hope’s story of love and positivity and fundraising in support of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. One of the many selfless things Hope said last year while thanking everyone for their support and donations was: “Even if the research can’t save me, maybe it will help my children or my children’s children.” 

If you’d like to help support #WeRunForHope this year, you can donate and follow along here https://www.facebook.com/donate/4471098389845102/.