DAD’S WALK 2025: WALKERS TREK THREE DAYS FOR CANCER AWARENESS
The King Cabbage Brass Band escorts Dad’s Walk 2025 participants into Copan on Oct. 25. The group walked over 60 miles in three days for cancer awareness.
Photo courtesy of Copan Dad’s Garage
Participants in Dad’s Walk 2025 walk from Claremore to Copan in three days for cancer awareness. Walkers were greeted with perfect weather on day one, but endured rain for the last two days.
Photo courtesy of Copan Dad’s Garage
By Becky Burch
Nov. 9, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
It's been more than two weeks since a weary, rain-soaked, sore-footed - yet triumphant - group of walkers entered Copan, completing their 60-plus-mile, three-day trek to raise awareness for cancer. Their journey began in Claremore on Oct. 23 and concluded in Copan on Oct. 25.
Dewayne Bryan headed Dad’s Walk 2025. He began the event five years ago, and it continues to grow each year. This year’s event raised money for Hopestone Cancer Support Center and Paths of Independence in Bartlesville. Bryan said the walk was inspired after he and his brother attended a music festival and heard that someone was struggling with post-surgery costs.
In the wee hours of Oct. 23, walkers gathered at the Claremore American Legion for their first leg of the journey - approximately 30 miles to Nowata. Walkers stayed at the Rudd Motel and the Gibson Motel. They later met at Tripp’s Bar for dinner and music. The Rudd Motel hosted breakfast the next morning, before walkers donned rain gear for their trek to Bartlesville. An auction and music event was held at Osage Casino that evening.
In the final stretch to Copan, participants met at Hopestone Cancer Support Center in the rain to complete their final miles. The group was escorted into Copan with jazz music from The King Cabbage Brass Band. Walkers and the community held a barbecue and music festival to end the event.
Dad’s Walk founder Dewayne Bryan, right, gives instructions to participants after they reach their first day's destination at the Rudd Motel in Nowata. Participants also stayed in the Gibson Motel.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Austin Dixon performs at Tripp’s Bar in Nowata on Oct. 23 as part of Dad’s Walk 2025. Several other artists performed as well.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports