Every family hopes to raise children who know it’s okay to ask for help, who feel connected to their community, and who understand that their mental health matters just as much as their physical health. These conversations don’t come easily, but they can start in the most unexpected places, even at a 5k.
On Saturday, October 3rd in Byrd Park, families from across Richmond will gather for the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation’s annual SpeakUp5k, a morning dedicated to movement, connection, and breaking the stigma surrounding teen mental health. Whether you’re an experienced runner, a casual walker, or pushing a stroller along the course, the SpeakUp5k is designed to be an event where everyone belongs.
The SpeakUp5k has become one of Richmond’s signature community events, bringing together thousands of participants each year to celebrate hope and support teen mental wellness. Inspired by Cameron Gallagher’s dream of creating a joyful event that encourages people to SpeakUp about mental health, the race continues to unite our community around a message that has never been more important.
More Than a Race: A Community of Support
Mental health challenges among young people continue to rise. More teens than ever report experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness, and overwhelming stress. At the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, we believe one of the most powerful ways to support young people is by creating spaces where they know they are not alone. That sense of belonging is exactly what many students say they find through the Foundation’s programs.
“Before joining my SpeakUp Club, I thought I was the only one who felt stressed all the time,” one high school student shared. “Now I know everyone is going through something, and talking about it actually helps.”
Another student explained, “The [SpeakUp] Club gave me a place where I could just be myself. It reminded me that I don’t have to have everything figured out.”
These moments of connection are what the SpeakUp5k is all about. While the race raises critical funds for teen mental health education, it also creates an opportunity for families to have conversations about emotional well-being in a fun, welcoming environment.
A New Way for Families to Get Involved
This year, we’re especially excited to introduce something new for families: the SpeakUp Clubhouse.
Located inside the post-race party, the SpeakUp Clubhouse offers children, teens, and parents a chance to experience some of the engaging activities that take place in our SpeakUp Clubs throughout the school year. Families can create friendship bracelets, participate in hands-on wellness activities, and discover simple ways to build resilience and strengthen connections at home.
Parents and educators can also learn more about bringing a SpeakUp Club to their own school. These student-led clubs provide safe spaces where young people build friendships, practice positive coping skills, and normalize conversations about mental health. The SpeakUp Clubhouse allows families to experience these activities firsthand while learning how they can help expand the program in their own communities.
One student who attends a SpeakUp Club said, “The activities don’t feel like school. They make it easier to open up and you leave feeling like someone understands you.”
Of course, the fun doesn’t stop there. The SpeakUp5k features music, vendors, family-friendly activities, refreshments, and a vibrant atmosphere that makes it feel more like a community festival than a traditional race. Children can celebrate crossing the finish line, parents can connect with local organizations, and everyone can enjoy the new SpeakUp Clubhouse together.
Many families return year after year because the event has become more than a race; it’s a tradition with purpose. It’s an opportunity to spend quality time together while supporting a cause that touches nearly every family.
By participating, you’re doing more than crossing a finish line. You’re helping fund mental health education programs that reach thousands of students, parents, educators, and school throughout Virginia. Every registration helps expand access to resources that encourage teens to ask for help, support one another, and know they are never alone.
As one student put it, “I wish everyone could be part of a SpeakUp Club because everyone deserves to know they’re not alone.”
Whether this is your family’s first SpeakUp5k or you attend every year, we’d love to have you join us! Register today and bring your family along for Richmond’s biggest celebration of teen mental health.
As a special thank you to Richmond Family Magazine readers, use promo code RFM to receive $5 off your registration. Together, we can continue building a community where every young person feels seen, supported, and empowered to SpeakUp.
Register for the October 3rd SpeakUp5k here.
