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By Douglas McCulloch
Hometown Weekly Staff
The IAM Strong Foundation’s annual 5K made its way through Westwood last Sunday, breaking the event’s previous record with over 800 registered participants and is expected to bring in $15,000.
In addition to the runners who raced in the 5K race and a shorter course, parents and kids also showed up to have fun at a children’s obstacle course and to participate in a silent auction and other fun activities.
To kick off the 5K and to raise awareness for teen mental health issues, the IAM Strong Foundation set up a balloon release with different colored balloons to signify how mental health issues have affected community members.
During the balloon release, hundreds of orange, white, green, purple and blue balloons were released. The orange and white balloons represented the Westwood High class of 2019, while the other three colors allowed residents to express how teen mental health issues have affected them.
For IAM Strong 5K member Cheryl Morrison Deutsch, the annual event proved to be successful both in providing a fun event and helping to raise awareness of the IAM Strong Foundation and the Foundation’s mission to raise awareness of teen mental health issues.
“Seeing the different generations communicating and having fun together is always a great time,” Deutsch said. “It really helps open the conversation about mental health struggles and normalizes the conversation to allow families to talk about it and maybe help one kid reach out and get the help they need.”
Deutsch noted that raising awareness is the most important part of the 5K, as well as other events the organization hosts.
“The most important part of both the 5k and the IAM Strong Foundation is the message that silence is not an option,” Deutsch said.
She continued, “We have to speak up and share our stories, we have to open the lines of communication in families, with friends, with health care providers to realize there is no shame in the struggle surrounding mental health and that by talking about it and by realizing you are not the only one to have struggled or to have a friend or family member struggle and that you deserve to get the help you need.”
The 5K featured many different age groups participating.
For women, Alexandra Ponte came in first in the 13 and under category with a time of 25:18, while Mairead Walsh placed first in the 14-20 category with a time of 23:26. Kirsten Burbo placed first in the 21 and over with a time of 22:39.
For men, Michael Bligh won the 13 and under with a time of 22:26, while Micah Bernat placed first in the 14-20 with a time of 22:29. Luke Devin placed first in the 21 and over with a time of 16:49.
For more information about the IAM Strong Foundation, visit the foundation’s website at iamstrong foundation.org.
