RU OK 5K

The Michigan District of Optimist International and Farmington SAFE are teaming-up to raise funds that will be used locally and throughout Michigan to spread the awareness of the growing mental health crisis in Michigan youth, teens and young adults. We will use the funds generated to partner with community organizations that provide education to the community and resources for individuals who are at risk as well as for their families and friends. A quote from Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981 states: “Children are one third of our population and all of our future.” They need us now more than ever before.

The Michigan statistics are alarming. According to a 2017 survey by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, students grades 9-12 reported the following within the 12 months prior to the survey. 

1.  Percent of high school students who report they felt sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities.   MALE 27%  FEMALE 48%

2,  Percent of high school students who report they seriously considered attempting suicide.  MALE  16%  FEMALE 12% 

3.  Percent of high school students who report they attempted suicide 1 or more times. MALE  6%   FEMALE 12%

4.  Percent of high school students who report they attempted suicide resulting in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse.               MALE 2% FEMALE 4%

IN MOST CASES, THE MICHIGAN STATISTICS WERE HIGHER THAN THE U.S. STATISTICS. This was 3 years ago and prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic. How many teens that you know could fit in these statistics? How would you know? Have the statistics increased or decreased since 2017?

Join us to help bring hope and health back to our Michigan kids and young adults.

The event will run from Wednesday, September 9th through Monday, September 21st. This event will be virtual this year and the day, time, and course are up to you. 

EVENTS: 5K Run, 5K Walk, 1 mile Family Fun Walk, 1 mile Pooch Parade Walk. Enter one event or more.  Put together a team of family, friends, or co-workers and create a healthy competition for time and donations raised. They can compete from wherever they are or you can organize a small group of properly distanced folks. The most important thing is to have fun while supporting a great cause!

You may register for one or all of the events. Separate registrations are required for each event. Our goal is to have 200 serious runners/walkers, 50 families, and 50 pooches participate in this event. If you have a family or a team, please register everyone at one time for each event in order to group them properly and to reduce the processing fees for credit cards.

Registration fees: 

Run/Walk-  All Run/Walk registrations will receive a custom bib to wear during your individual event and a participant medal when your times have been entered by the deadline.     Adults $25    Students 18 and under- $15    

Family Fun Walk  $10 each participant (utilize the group registration for a discount)

Pooch Patrol -  $15 each doggie Each registered Pooch will receive a custom Pooch Patrol bandana.

Can't participate in person this year? Please consider making a donation to this worthy cause. Over 95% of all proceeds will be returned to the community  in programs and resources. The only deduction will be 50% of the processing fees for your registration.