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Hero Images / Getty ImagesRunning and walking are great ways to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and lower blood pressure. So it makes sense that around the world, manymental health charitiesorganize walks and runs to build a sense of community and promote exercise while also raising money for mental health initiatives.Whether you’re running your first 5K or you’re a seasoned runner, here are 10 ways to get involved in a mental health awareness walk or run near you.
Hero Images / Getty Images
Running and walking are great ways to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and lower blood pressure. So it makes sense that around the world, manymental health charitiesorganize walks and runs to build a sense of community and promote exercise while also raising money for mental health initiatives.
Whether you’re running your first 5K or you’re a seasoned runner, here are 10 ways to get involved in a mental health awareness walk or run near you.
1NAMIWalksThe National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) organizesNAMIWalksin more than 100 cities across the United States every year. Nearly 25,000 participants have laced up to raise close to $8 million as well as awareness for the treatment of mental illnesses. Walkers can register online to raise donations to support their walk, participating as individuals, joining a team, or creating a new team. Leashed dogs are allowed to join you on the course, too. While registration is free, fundraising is encouraged.
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NAMIWalksThe National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) organizesNAMIWalksin more than 100 cities across the United States every year. Nearly 25,000 participants have laced up to raise close to $8 million as well as awareness for the treatment of mental illnesses. Walkers can register online to raise donations to support their walk, participating as individuals, joining a team, or creating a new team. Leashed dogs are allowed to join you on the course, too. While registration is free, fundraising is encouraged.
NAMIWalks
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) organizesNAMIWalksin more than 100 cities across the United States every year. Nearly 25,000 participants have laced up to raise close to $8 million as well as awareness for the treatment of mental illnesses. Walkers can register online to raise donations to support their walk, participating as individuals, joining a team, or creating a new team. Leashed dogs are allowed to join you on the course, too. While registration is free, fundraising is encouraged.
2Out of the Darkness WalksTheAmerican Foundation for Suicide Preventionorganizes walks in all 50 states to help fund research, support survivors, promote education, and champion for policy change. More than 250,000 people participate in the walks, which average at three miles. If you signed up solo, look for the designated space for walkers to meet and get to know each other so no one walks alone.
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Out of the Darkness WalksTheAmerican Foundation for Suicide Preventionorganizes walks in all 50 states to help fund research, support survivors, promote education, and champion for policy change. More than 250,000 people participate in the walks, which average at three miles. If you signed up solo, look for the designated space for walkers to meet and get to know each other so no one walks alone.
Out of the Darkness Walks
TheAmerican Foundation for Suicide Preventionorganizes walks in all 50 states to help fund research, support survivors, promote education, and champion for policy change. More than 250,000 people participate in the walks, which average at three miles. If you signed up solo, look for the designated space for walkers to meet and get to know each other so no one walks alone.
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Five Fifty Fifty Run/Walk Series
4The Walk for Mental Health AwarenessThe Walk for Mental Health Awareness in Houstonhosts an annual 5K that’s garnered nearly $200,000 for various mental health organizations in the greater Houston area, like the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America. Rather than having a traditional finish line, the 5K walk/run ends with an “Arch of Breakthrough” to commemorate achievements in recovery. Leashed dogs are welcome to join the course, and there’s a Children’s Corner with information about youth mental illnesses.
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The Walk for Mental Health AwarenessThe Walk for Mental Health Awareness in Houstonhosts an annual 5K that’s garnered nearly $200,000 for various mental health organizations in the greater Houston area, like the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America. Rather than having a traditional finish line, the 5K walk/run ends with an “Arch of Breakthrough” to commemorate achievements in recovery. Leashed dogs are welcome to join the course, and there’s a Children’s Corner with information about youth mental illnesses.
The Walk for Mental Health Awareness
The Walk for Mental Health Awareness in Houstonhosts an annual 5K that’s garnered nearly $200,000 for various mental health organizations in the greater Houston area, like the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America. Rather than having a traditional finish line, the 5K walk/run ends with an “Arch of Breakthrough” to commemorate achievements in recovery. Leashed dogs are welcome to join the course, and there’s a Children’s Corner with information about youth mental illnesses.
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MOM Race
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JWB Resiliency 5K & 1-Mile Family Fun Run/Walk
7Walk for Hope"Small steps. Huge Strides." That’s the motto behind theFoundation for Hope’s flagship event, held annually for more than 30 years in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They host a 5K as well as a 1-mile family fun run, raising money for research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Psychiatry to better understand the root causes of mental illness and working to erase the stigma surrounding it. If you’re not up for the physical activity, you can buy a ticket for their day-long festival, which includes music, food, games, and prizes.
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Walk for Hope"Small steps. Huge Strides." That’s the motto behind theFoundation for Hope’s flagship event, held annually for more than 30 years in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They host a 5K as well as a 1-mile family fun run, raising money for research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Psychiatry to better understand the root causes of mental illness and working to erase the stigma surrounding it. If you’re not up for the physical activity, you can buy a ticket for their day-long festival, which includes music, food, games, and prizes.
Walk for Hope
“Small steps. Huge Strides.” That’s the motto behind theFoundation for Hope’s flagship event, held annually for more than 30 years in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They host a 5K as well as a 1-mile family fun run, raising money for research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Psychiatry to better understand the root causes of mental illness and working to erase the stigma surrounding it. If you’re not up for the physical activity, you can buy a ticket for their day-long festival, which includes music, food, games, and prizes.
8Mental Health Advocacy Capital WalkTake in sights of Washington D.C.’s most famous landmarks during theMental Health Advocacy Capital Walkthat supports mental health awareness specifically related toobsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) and benefits the International OCD Foundation. You can walk the 1.7-mile loop individually, with friends, or create a team. After the race, meet leaders from various mental health nonprofits and learn about the resources they provide.
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Mental Health Advocacy Capital WalkTake in sights of Washington D.C.’s most famous landmarks during theMental Health Advocacy Capital Walkthat supports mental health awareness specifically related toobsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) and benefits the International OCD Foundation. You can walk the 1.7-mile loop individually, with friends, or create a team. After the race, meet leaders from various mental health nonprofits and learn about the resources they provide.
Mental Health Advocacy Capital Walk
Take in sights of Washington D.C.’s most famous landmarks during theMental Health Advocacy Capital Walkthat supports mental health awareness specifically related toobsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) and benefits the International OCD Foundation. You can walk the 1.7-mile loop individually, with friends, or create a team. After the race, meet leaders from various mental health nonprofits and learn about the resources they provide.
Find a Local or Virtual RaceDon’t feel discouraged if you don’t live near a large nationwide race. Use it as an opportunity to find a smaller local 5K or walk in support of mental health awareness in your area. You might even consider joining a virtual race or making a trip out of signing up for a larger race in a destination you’ve always wanted to visit.Raise Funds for Still I RunIf you’ve already signed up for a race but are looking for a charity to raise funds for,Still I Runcould be a fit. The organization is on a mission to change the stereotypes surrounding mental illness, build community, and motivate those living with depression, anxiety, and other disorders to cope through exercise. By raising money for the organization, you’ll be contributing to their outreach program, which includes group fun runs around the country from California to Maryland.
Find a Local or Virtual Race
Don’t feel discouraged if you don’t live near a large nationwide race. Use it as an opportunity to find a smaller local 5K or walk in support of mental health awareness in your area. You might even consider joining a virtual race or making a trip out of signing up for a larger race in a destination you’ve always wanted to visit.
Raise Funds for Still I Run
If you’ve already signed up for a race but are looking for a charity to raise funds for,Still I Runcould be a fit. The organization is on a mission to change the stereotypes surrounding mental illness, build community, and motivate those living with depression, anxiety, and other disorders to cope through exercise. By raising money for the organization, you’ll be contributing to their outreach program, which includes group fun runs around the country from California to Maryland.
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