Mental Health Matters 5k Walk/Run for Awareness

Lace up and join us on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for the Mental Health Matters 5k Walk/Run for Awareness! Hosted by All Souls Counseling Center on the UNC Asheville campus , this is a timed, family-friendly race with a purpose : normalizing conversations about mental health and connecting participants with support resources available right here in WNC. Beyond the walk and run, you'll find a community Health and Resource Fair featuring mental health and wellness organizations from across the region — a reminder that asking for help is something worth celebrating, not hiding. All proceeds will go toward supporting All Souls Counseling Center's mission to provide accessible mental health counseling to adults who are underinsured and uninsured in Western North Carolina. NEW for 2026: All participants will be professionally chip timed! Two walk/run options will be available: 1. Walk or run the route on UNCA's campus 2. Walk or run around UNCA's Karl Straus Track Pricing tiers are: • Free for a ges 22 and under! • $25 April 28–May 4 (Early Bird Pricing) • $30 May 5–September 4 • $35 September 5–September 18 • $40 September 19 (Race Day!) T-shirt: The first 400 who register will receive an event T-shirt — design forthcoming! Race Packet Pickup | Friday, September 18 • Time: 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. • Location: Asheville Chamber of Commerce — convenient drive-through pickup! • Beat the race-day rush! We strongly encourage picking up your packet on Friday to save time. If you can’t make it, friends or family members are welcome to pick up your packet for you. Otherwise, packet pickup will be available on race morning. Race Day Schedule | Saturday, September 19 • 8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Participants arrive to find parking, walk to the track, and check in • 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Check out the Health and Resource Fair • 9:45 a.m. Participants meet in front of the bleachers for a short program • 10:00 a.m. 5k walk/run begins! • Rolling awards ceremony as results ar