GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A partnership between two West Michigan organizations is aiming to get more people running as a way to improve their mental health.
Still I Run and The Well Being, which are both based in Grand Rapids and emphasize the intersection between exercise and mental health, have partnered to offer the Starting Line Scholarship.
The scholarship got its start after Still I Run founder Sasha Wolff reached out to The Well Being CEO Brendan Kelly.
It is available to 20 people interested in running for their mental health, but struggling to take that first step. Recipients will meet with other participants and experts twice a week for fitness classes, group therapy and group runs. They will also receive all the running gear they need to get started—shoes, running clothes and a fitness watch.
There are two cohorts held each year for this program, one in the fall and one in the spring.
At the end of the 12-week program, participants will run in a 5K. This spring, that is the Amway Riverbank Run, which 17 scholarship recipients will be racing in.
Still I Run is not only known locally, but nationally. Recently, Good Morning America's Ginger Zee ran a half marathon with the nonprofit, and Janai Norman spoke about Still I Run while documenting her running journey—something that Wolff said is fantastic to see.
"People have been running for their mental health for a long time, but not realizing that running is a great catalyst. And Still I Run is kind of bringing that to the forefront, like running is not just good for your physical health, but your mental health as well," Wolff said. "So seeing it take place on this national stage with Ginger Zee and Janai Norman has been absolutely incredible. It's such a great way to just get out the word that you can go and do positive things for your mental health. Any type of movement can help."
Kelly and Wolff are hoping to see more people signing up to get involved.
"It is an incredible program. I've been working in the field of mental health for 20 years and when we did the fall cohort last year, I said it was a top five experience in my career," Kelly said. "It really is a truly magical and special program and it's something that we're going to be doing for a long time."
At the end of this year's fall cohort, participants will run in the LMCU Bridge Run 5K in September.
Applications for the fall cohort opened on May 1 and will close on May 17. To learn more or submit your application, click here.
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