Due to weather conditions, the 15th Annual
Hare and Tortoise Ovarian Cancer Memorial Run/Walk
that was to be held at The Meadows on
Saturday, September 23, 2023 has been CANCELLED.
"The tortoise is slow and steady but wins the race – Ovarian Cancer is slow to detect but we can win the race. The tortoise is quiet – Ovarian Cancer is the quiet cancer – it whispers – don’t let it beat you."

The FIFTEENTH annual Karene O’Hare/Bitsy Whitten Ovarian Cancer Memorial Run is scheduled for Saturday, September 23, at The Meadows in partnership with the Williamsburg Community Foundation; a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit organization tax, identification number 54-1927558. This Memorial Run is the only annual fundraising program that supports Ovarian Cancer screening, treatment and education for uninsured and under-insured women in the greater Williamsburg community.
The O’Hare/Whitten families sponsor this Run to raise money to combat Ovarian Cancer in memory of Karene O’Hare and Bitsy Whitten who were victims of the disease. Since 2009, over $290,000 has been distributed to help underwrite the Ovarian Cancer programs offered by the Lackey Clinic and the Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center to their patients.
In November 2016, we established an Ovarian Cancer Endowment Fund at the Williamsburg Community Foundation as a permanent source of income for this cause. The Fund provides donation sustainability to build and strengthen the significant Ovarian Cancer health care that Lackey and Olde Towne provide for our community. The money raised by the annual Run is deposited into the Endowment Fund and invested.
We encourage you to support this fundraiser and sign up to run or walk the event in person on September 23. The in-person live 8K race will start from The Meadows at 8:30 AM on a course along Capital Trail, followed closely by the 5K race at 8:40 AM. These races will be preceded by a one-mile fun run at 8:00 AM. Courses are USATF certified.
Virtual participants can run or walk any 8K or 5K course at their convenience. Virtual rules are simple; register for the race and submit your results by September 30, 2023. Once your time is posted we will provide you with a distinctive and specially designed t-shirt to commemorate your participation. A shipping fee of $9.00 must be paid in advance.
Please register for the race, donate to the charity, and/or become a sponsor. Thank you for your support in the fight against this dreadful disease.
We hope to make this a record year for race entrants and fundraising to honor the legacy of John O’Hare, founder of the Hare & Tortoise, who passed away in May of 2022.
Race Directors:
Jim Elder
Nicholas Luccketti
The O’Hare/Whitten families sponsor this Run to raise money to combat Ovarian Cancer in memory of Karene O’Hare and Bitsy Whitten who were victims of the disease. Since 2009, over $290,000 has been distributed to help underwrite the Ovarian Cancer programs offered by the Lackey Clinic and the Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center to their patients.
In November 2016, we established an Ovarian Cancer Endowment Fund at the Williamsburg Community Foundation as a permanent source of income for this cause. The Fund provides donation sustainability to build and strengthen the significant Ovarian Cancer health care that Lackey and Olde Towne provide for our community. The money raised by the annual Run is deposited into the Endowment Fund and invested.
We encourage you to support this fundraiser and sign up to run or walk the event in person on September 23. The in-person live 8K race will start from The Meadows at 8:30 AM on a course along Capital Trail, followed closely by the 5K race at 8:40 AM. These races will be preceded by a one-mile fun run at 8:00 AM. Courses are USATF certified.
Virtual participants can run or walk any 8K or 5K course at their convenience. Virtual rules are simple; register for the race and submit your results by September 30, 2023. Once your time is posted we will provide you with a distinctive and specially designed t-shirt to commemorate your participation. A shipping fee of $9.00 must be paid in advance.
Please register for the race, donate to the charity, and/or become a sponsor. Thank you for your support in the fight against this dreadful disease.
We hope to make this a record year for race entrants and fundraising to honor the legacy of John O’Hare, founder of the Hare & Tortoise, who passed away in May of 2022.
Race Directors:
Jim Elder
Nicholas Luccketti
A huge Thank You to this year's sponsors!
- Chismer Foundation
- The Bitsy Whitten Family
- Nancy & David Duff
- John Barry
- Sue & Jim Barton
- Chip & Becky Crews
- Betsy & Ernie Gates
- Hile Rutledge
- Mary & Jim Theobold
- Erica Winter
All information on this web site was compiled using the following sources:
American Cancer Society
National Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Coalition
American Cancer Society
National Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Coalition