The only maternal mental health 5K race in Virginia, Shelane’s Run, ends this weekend after 10 years.
“It does take a lot out of the family, both physically and mentally, to put on a race of this size,” said Shelane’s Run organizer and founder, Joanne Bryant. “And we really wanted, as a family, to do more as a family together.”
Bryant founded the run in honor of her late daughter, Shelane Gaydos, who was a Fairfax County police officer, wife and mother of three.
Gaydos died by suicide two weeks after learning of her miscarriage.
“We just had to do something to bring about awareness,” Bryant said. “I mean, if I had even known what to look for or what questions to ask, maybe we could’ve turned this thing around from the beginning.”
The annual race, which takes the family over 10 months to organize, raises money to support women with postpartum depression.
In partnership with the police department and Postpartum Support Virginia, founded by Adrienne Griffin, Shelane’s Run established Shelane’s Fund, “which provides small grants to women who need help,” Griffin said.
The race has raised well over $100,000 to support maternal mental health, Bryant said.
The last race, along with the kids fun run, is this Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon at the Fairfax County Government Center. Registration for the 5K is available until Saturday at 9 a.m.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/SLZm5WH
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