Gifford Medical Center hosts the 20th Annual Last Mile Ride, Run and Walk, which always features a motorcycle contingent, August 15 and 16. Gifford photo.
Vermont Business Magazine A beloved Vermont summer tradition returns August 15 and 16 as Gifford Medical Center hosts the 20th Annual Last Mile Ride, Run and Walk—a heartfelt, community-powered event dedicated to supporting end-of-life care for patients and their families.
What began as a small motorcycle ride in 2006 has grown into a two-day celebration of community, compassion, and purpose. Today, the Last Mile brings together hundreds of participants for a motorcycle ride, bike ride, 5K run, and one- and two-mile walks—all designed to raise essential funds for patients in life’s final chapter.
“This event is so much more than a fundraiser - it’s a moving, shared expression of love and kindness,” said Ashley Lincoln, vice president of development and public relations at Gifford and longtime event organizer. “We come together not only to remember those we’ve lost, but to ensure others experience comfort, dignity, and support in their final days.”
In 2024, 690 participants and 57 business sponsors raised $156,000, bringing the total raised since the event’s inception to more than $1.7 million. Those dollars directly fund services like massage therapy, family meals, estate planning, final wishes, and bereavement support.
“The impact of these gifts is incredibly personal,” Lincoln added. “They allow us to fulfill last wishes - like a trip to the ocean in Maine or a family wedding at home - and to surround patients and their loved ones with peace and compassion during a deeply emotional time.”
Schedule of Events:
Friday, Aug. 15: Walks and 5K Run begin at 6 p.m. Registration starts at 4:30 p.m. at Gifford Medical Center. $25 per person includes pizza, refreshments, and live music by Something Reckless. Participants are encouraged to form teams in honor or memory of loved ones
Saturday, Aug. 16: Motorcycle Ride: Registration at 8:30 a.m., ride begins at 10 a.m. $50 per rider | $75 per rider & passenger. Includes breakfast and a BBQ lunch. Enjoy a 87-mile scenic route through central Vermont.
Bicycle Ride: Registration at 9:30 a.m., $25 per cyclist, choose from road and gravel routes.
Additional ways to support include a 50/50 raffle, cash prize drawings, and a raffle for a beautiful handmade quilt.
“If you’ve never been part of the Last Mile, this is the year to join us,” said Lincoln. “It’s inspiring, it’s energizing, and it’s one of the most meaningful things we do all year.”
To register, donate, or learn more including route details and event logistics visit giffordhealthcare.org/lastmile or call 802-728-2380.
Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph, and Rochester; and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; daycare; an adult day programs; and a 30-bed nursing home. The Birthing Center, established in 1977, was the first in Vermont to offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based deliveries and continues to be a leader in midwifery and family-centered care. As a community health center and medical home, Gifford’s mission is to improve and manage the health of the people we serve by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care, and by promoting the health and well-being of everyone in our service area.
RANDOLPH, VT —Gifford Medical Center
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