Grab your running or walk buddy, favorite costume and Halloween spirit for Gift of Life’s 16th Julie Richardson Procter 5K Ribbon Run Monster Dash on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 7:30 a.m. to noon in downtown Beaumont.
This spooktacular community event offers families a safe and meaningful way to trick-or-treat while supporting Southeast Texas women affected by breast, ovarian and other gynecological cancers. Participants are encouraged to form teams, dress in creative costumes and run, walk or stroll together in celebration of hope, health and healing.
Most importantly, all funds raised through the Ribbon Run remain in Southeast Texas, benefiting Gift of Life’s breast and ovarian cancer awareness initiatives and helping provide medically underserved women with free breast health screenings, diagnostic procedures, educational outreach and compassionate navigation to potentially lifesaving treatment.
“The Ribbon Run demonstrates what is possible when an entire community comes together with compassion and purpose,” said Gift of Life Medical Director Gwendolyn Lavalais. “Many women in our region depend upon Gift of Life’s no-cost services and cancer prevention outreach.”
The morning begins at 7:30 a.m. with the opening of the Wellness Village and the arrival of breast, ovarian and gynecological cancer survivors for the 7:45 a.m. Survivor Parade.
At 8 a.m., the community will gather inside the Beaumont Civic Center for the inspirational Celebration Ceremony. The program will honor courageous cancer survivors, remember beloved women whose lives have been lost and recognize the sponsors, healthcare partners and volunteers who advance Gift of Life’s mission.
A highlight of the ceremony will be the introduction and recognition of Gift of Life’s extraordinary 2026 Angels Among Us including Virtue Alexander, Janci Kimball, Sheree Pierce and Sarah Wells.
At 9 a.m., participants will take off on the chip-timed 5K course through downtown Beaumont. Each registered runner and walker will receive a bib containing an electronic timing chip, providing an accurate individual finish time and automatically generating race placements and awards.
The 3.2-mile route will also become a lively and safe trick-or-treat trail featuring candy stations, cheerleaders, bands, school organizations, entertainers and community groups encouraging participants every step of the way.
Registration is now open at golribbonrun.org. General registration is $35. Breast, ovarian and gynecological cancer survivors, as well as children six years of age and younger, may participate free of charge.
For registration, team participation, sponsorship opportunities or additional information, call Gift of Life at (409) 833-3663 or visit golribbonrun.org.
Families can continue the celebration in the Kiddie Zone, where children will enjoy age-appropriate activities and family-friendly entertainment in a welcoming environment. The Wellness Village will feature interactive healthy-lifestyle exhibits, cancer-prevention resources and community health information, while music, food, costumed characters and door prizes announced throughout the morning add to the Monster Dash excitement.
Whether participants are serious runners, casual walkers, cancer survivors, families with young children or friends supporting someone they love, the Monster Dash gives everyone a memorable way to celebrate Halloween while making a meaningful difference.
The Ribbon Run honors the memory of Julie Richardson Procter, a beloved Gift of Life board member and respected attorney who lost her courageous battle with ovarian cancer in 2011 at age 51.
Special appreciation is extended to the Young Men’s Business League for once again adopting the Ribbon Run as its community service project. YMBL members play an integral role in orchestrating the event and supporting Gift of Life’s October Pink and Teal Ribbon Campaign by installing eight-foot awareness ribbons throughout Southeast Texas. Their extraordinary volunteer service and annual financial contributions help sustain the organization’s free breast health medical services.
Individuals, families, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to form teams, become sponsors and step up to take a stand against breast and ovarian cancer. With numerous sponsorship, recognition and participant-engagement opportunities, the Ribbon Run gives every supporter a way to advance women’s health while demonstrating that Southeast Texas takes care of its own.
The 2026 Monster Dash is made possible through the exceptional generosity of Presenting Sponsors Robin Dauphin, Motiva, Optimus Steel, Provost Umphrey Law Firm and Quality Mat Company. Their investments extend far beyond event sponsorship, helping ensure that Southeast Texas women facing financial and healthcare-access barriers receive critical breast health services, education and compassionate support. Gift of Life is equally grateful for the steadfast leadership of Title Sponsors H-E-B and Jason’s Deli, whose commitment to community health and service strengthens Gift of Life’s ability to reach vulnerable Southeast Texans. Together, these remarkable partners are helping Gift of Life transform Halloween fun into hope and community participation into tangible, lifesaving care for local women.
The Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program is a Southeast Texas nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through cancer-prevention education and the provision of free breast and prostate cancer screenings, diagnostic services and navigation to care for medically underserved individuals. Funds raised through Gift of Life initiatives remain in Southeast Texas and directly support the health and wellness of residents throughout the organization’s seven-county service area.
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