Proceeds from this run will benefit BABA, a 501c3, non-profit organization. Individuals who raise $100 or more will have their fees waived.
Your Way 5k, is critical to me and our community for a few reasons. It marks the emancipation of slavery in Confederate states – States that wanted to preserve slavery. The celebration of this holiday sends a message that is now trending: "We won't go back." What does that message mean to you?
The Juneteenth Move Your Way 5k, also embodies the spirit of caring for our hearts, which sends a message to our souls of love, expansion, and extended life. With heart disease being the leading cause of death amongst Black people in America, it's so imperative that we move our bodies. "Despite the overall declining rates of CVD mortality in the USA in recent years, marked disparities between racial and ethnic groups persist, with black adults having a higher mortality rate than white adults." (Zhao et al., 2024).
A few years ago, I committed to a regular exercise routine; almost daily. Like with any new behavior, it wasn't easy in the beginning. However, through the science of Applied Behavior Analysis and the use of a Self-Monitoring system with Public Postings in my home office, regular exercise is an adaptive skill that I have mastered and keep in maintenance.
I encourage each of you to be free from institutions that hold the values of the Confederates. Commit to the action of exercise because the consequence of not doing so can be heartbreaking - literally.
If you're already devoted to movement or need a tribe to start with, join BABA for the Juneteenth Move Your Way 5k and consider donating to a cause that "Ain't Never Going Back."
