Bee Brave is more than just a few events throughout the year to raise money for local breast cancer research. Throughout the last 15 years, it has grown to become a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about raising breast cancer awareness, supporting fighters and honoring those whose battle has ended. Bee Brave is a haven of hope for those who need it, a home in which to share their courageous stories, as well as a place to celebrate the victories and triumphs over breast cancer.

Since 2016, Bee Brave has raised more than $590,000 to support breakthrough breast cancer research in the lab of Dr. Matt Steensma at Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids.

Bee Brave is different because 100% of the money raised stays in Grand Rapids, Michigan! But that's not all:
     -100% of Bee Brave events are organized by volunteers and supported by local business sponsors who are dedicated to finding a cure.
     -100% of race registration goes directly to breast cancer research at Van Andel Institute.

Since beginning its partnership with Van Andel Institute 7 years ago, Bee Brave has funded breast cancer research in Grand Rapids and that simply would not have been possible without the support of our local business sponsors and the volunteers who give countless hours to this cause. None of Bee Brave’s incredible volunteer organizers receive a paycheck from the organization, because they would rather see every single dollar be used for research!

Bee Brave is proud to partner with Van Andel Institute Purple Community, VAI's grassroots community awareness and fundraising program that connects individuals, schools, teams and businesses to the resources needed to join the fight against cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Individualized tools and customized assistance are available to create events and programs that help raise funds for biomedical research at the Institute. When you fundraise through VAI Purple Community, your efforts go further. Thanks to a generous endowment from Jay and Betty Van Andel, every dollar of every donation goes directly to the cause.