ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Throughout the year across America, warm weather brings millions outside for a simple walk in parks, neighborhoods and other places in communities.
Walking is likewise a popular pastime in Southwest Kansas, and Saturday, May 17, a few local organizations are inviting everyone to take a walk, this time for a cause.
The Liberal Area Coalition for Families, along with Healthy Blue Kansas, the Southwest Guidance Center, Seward County United Way and Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE), are hosting the Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) 5K or 1 Mile Run/Walk at 1195 N. Kansas Ave. in Liberal next to LACF’s Farmers Market.
Organizer Clarissa Carrillo, a former United Way director and currently serving as Western Kansas Regional Community Leader for COPE’s Local Health Equity Action Teams, said the event is a chance to highlight May as Mental Health Awareness Month
Carrillo is also Miss Ad Astra 2024, and through her own experiences as well as mental health being part of her platform, she has noticed how staying physically active through activities like walking and running helps with mental health.
“Sometimes, walking for 10, 15 minutes makes a big difference, and it’s one of those things experts also recommend to help us and help our mind,” she said. “That idea connected with how do we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, or how do we shine a little awareness.”
As planning came together for the run/walk, Carrillo said several questions were asked as to how to bring awareness to mental health.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What is something people can do and enjoy at any age and anyone can come out and participate?’” she said. “‘We then asked ourselves, what about a 5K, a fun run, walk?’ It doesn’t have to be intense. The idea is for people to come out, join a group to go on a walk, run.”
While the event is not a competition, prizes will be available for some winners, and Carrillo said the run/walk is simply a way to bring the community together to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.
With mental health being such a common connection for people, Carrillo said having the run/walk at the farmers market made perfect sense.
“Staying healthy and having good mental health includes staying physically active, eating healthy, connecting with people, and our farmers market is a great place for people to come out,” she said. “Afterwards, they can hang around the farmers market, maybe do some shopping and connect with others. It’s a nice location where things are already happening for people to come out and connect with the community and others.”
Carrillo said the primary goal of the MHAM 5K or 1 Mile Run/Walk is to continue to create chances for community members to connect with each other.
“This is important, and I’m hoping this won’t be the last time we do it,” she said. “I’m hoping we continue to have this fun walk and run every year to continue to shine that awareness on mental health and highlight the resources we have locally as well.”
Entry for the MHAM Run/Walk is simply a free will donation, which Carrillo said will be taken during registration and given to SCUW.
“That donation can stay there for community members or something related to mental health,” she said. “There’s that fund through United Way as well. I’m excited about that. For this year, we’re not pushing for a cost. We just want people to come out and enjoy the run and walk. It’s a free will donation.”
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at 1195 N. Kansas Ave., and the first 25 people to register will get a T-shirt.
“There will also be a couple of prizes for the winners and also for participation,” Carrillo said. “Come out and see some of the prizes we’ll be giving. We’re just excited and hoping people come out.”
A flyer for the event is posted on the LACF Facebook page and contains resources such as the 988lifeline.org Web site as well as the National Alliance for Mental Illness Web site at www.nami.org. Carrillo said officials with SWGC will be on hand for Saturday’s event as well.
“If people have questions, they can also connect there that day,” she said.
Carrillo said she is both excited and nervous for the upcoming MHAM Run/Walk
“I really hope it serves as an opportunity for us to come together to go for a walk and connect with resources,” she said. “We have a run/walk group here in Liberal. If there are people who don’t know about it, maybe they can connect. Every Saturday at 8 in the morning, you can come and join the group and go for a walk.”
