5K incorporates mind, body

By: Sydney Engelhardt, Staff Writer

To support physical and mental wellbeing, students made their way out to the Mind Body Soul 5K at Newell Field Sunday.

The leaders of the Fusion Dance Team, TU Thinks Pink, Active Minds and Relay for Life came together through their passion for dance to organize the 5K.

“We’ve all been dancing together for years and thought we could bring our respective passions together,” President of the Fusion Dance Team Heather Rera said. “We had the idea of partnering up and bringing all of us leading ladies together.”

The main goal of the event was not only to raise money for the four organizations, but also to raise awareness about mental illness and cancer.

“Everyone involved with the production of this run is so incredibly passionate about these causes,” Vice President of Active Minds Allison D’Amato said. “We all have been affected by cancer and mental illness, sometimes both, and so we hope to create a community that allows us to connect the two and show that we are all here for each other no matter what your illness may look like.”

Active Minds hopes that people can get a better sense of how much mental illness and cancer affects not only those who suffer, but also the lives of everyone around them. Their goal is to work to close the gap between mental and physical illness so people can see both equally.

“It’s a good event to raise awareness for cancer and mental illness and also to celebrate those who survived,” sophomore Diana Kutulos said.

Most participants ran because they were part of the clubs running the event and they understand the importance of raising awareness.

“Active Minds has a saying that there are one in four people that have mental illness but there are four in four people that are affected by it—everyone knows someone,” Public Relations Coordinator for Active Minds Kathleen McAdam said.

Some participates took part in the run because of loved ones or friends that were affected by cancer or mental illness.

“I think it’s a great cause and I am also here because my grandma had cancer,” sophomore Kayley Teich said.

Sixty people signed up to participate in the Mind Body Soul 5K and the group had a goal of raising $1,000 for the causes, but all they really wanted was to raise awareness.

“We know how powerful it can be when you bring people together who fight the same fight,” Rera said.

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