Organize a group run
Even though Run IDONTMIND is a virtual event, we encourage you to get the people in your life involved! It’s a great way to inspire conversations, get your community together, and advocate for mental health in the process. Here are a few tips that we have for organizing an in-person group event in your area.
1. Figure out the logistics
Decide your date, time, location, and distance.
Run IDONTMIND can take place anytime throughout the month of May, so you can choose anytime that works best for you.
Consider the average skill level of the people you want to be involved.
Maybe a 5k walk is going to be a better option than a 10k run for your group. You can also encourage people to just come and cheer you on!
Find a spot that will work for your group.
Depending on the size of your group, you may want to consider special locations that will work for a larger number of people like a local park or school. Don’t forget to check if a permit is required for your location!
2. Build your team
Get your friends and family involved first.
Start with the people who mean the most to you to make your group run special. And don’t worry about the size of your group! No matter how many people you get involved, it’s going to leave an impact.
Be creative with who you get involved.
If you’re struggling to think of who to recruit, consider people from other areas in your life. For example: a walking or running club in your area, people from your local rec center or gym, someone from your classes if you’re in school, a book club, or a youth group.
3. Start a group fundraiser
Help us raise $25,000 for mental health resources.
Create a team fundraising page for your group and promote it leading up to your event. It can be incredibly powerful to have everyone at your event working towards the same goal.
4. Spread the word and grow your event
Let everyone know your event is happening.
Now it’s time to get everyone registered for Run IDONTMIND! Whether that’s through a group text, a Facebook group, or even just an open invitation to the people that follow you on social media.
Tell people why this event is important to you.
Sharing the “why” gets people excited to join and also helps them think about their own story and mental health journey.
Post about it on social media.
Posting about it on social media is going to be one of the easiest ways to grow your event. You can go live on your social media, message people individually, send out an email with all of the details, and posting regularly about the event on your social media channels is going to make a huge impact.
Use our templates to get started.
Here are some sample images, captions, and email templates that can help you get started in getting people together for your event.
Sample email
This May, I’m celebrating Mental Health Month with Run IDONTMIND, a virtual 5K, 10K, and half-marathon to inspire conversations about mental health and support resources from IDONTMIND!
I’m organizing a group run and would love for you to join me! You can run, walk, or even just cheer and support! Below are all of the details for the event:
[Insert distance, date, time, and location for your event]
Mental health is something that I’m incredibly passionate about. [Share a little about your mental health journey and why Run IDONTMIND is important to you.]
I'll be fundraising for IDONTMIND, and I'd love to have your support! If you’re able to, you can join my fundraising team or make a donation at [link to Give Butter page] to help me meet my goal. Even a small donation can make a big difference! Your support means so much.
Let me know if you’ll be able to make it to the event! I hope to see you all there!
Instagram / Facebook
This May, I’m celebrating Mental Health Month with Run IDONTMIND, a virtual 5K, 10K, and half-marathon to inspire conversations about mental health and support resources from @idontmind. I’m organizing a group run and would love for you to join me! Let me know if you’ll be able to make it! I hope to see you there.
This May, I’m celebrating Mental Health Month with Run IDONTMIND, to support resources from @idontmind. I’m organizing a group run and would love for you to join me! Let me know if you’ll be able to make it. I hope to see you all there!
5. Get your racing gear
Plan a dress code or theme.
Think about if you want there to be a specific dress code that’s meaningful to your event! Maybe there’s a specific theme that’s special to you, or you can wear IDONTMIND to inspire meaningful conversations about mental health.