Stop the Stigma 5K SAVE THE DATE: April 29, 2023
Nearly every family in the United States has been touched by mental illness or addiction. Interfaith Social Services hosts the Stop the Stigma 5K each year to support our loved ones, challenge stereotypes, encourage acceptance and eliminate stigmas, all while raising funds for our New Directions Counseling Center.
THANK YOU to all who participated in 2022 by walking, running, fundraising or sponsoring. With your help, we shattered our fundraising goals for this event, raising more than $100,000.
Stay tuned for information on how to sponsor and/or participate in the 2023 Stop the Stigma! More information will be released in January 2023.
Our race committee has put together 27 amazing packages. We've got hotel stays, a TREK bicycle, dining gift cards, toy bundles, a dinner for 6 at Pearl & Lime and so much more!
Tickets are $5 each; purchase now through May 5.
** Raffle winners were selected and contacted by email on Monday, May 9. Congratulations to all our winners!
In-Person Race
DATE: Saturday, April 30, 2022
TIME: Race begins at 9:30am sharp; pick up bibs & shirts between 8:30-9:15am
The in-person race is now SOLD OUT. There will be no day-of registrations available. If you'd still like to participate, consider registering for the virtual option and run a 5K on the date, time and course of your choosing.
PLACE: The Start/Finish line is at the Quincy Council on Aging/Kennedy Center - 440 East Squantum Street, Quincy
RACE ROUTE: Download a map and directions
Not a runner? No problem. Walking the route is a great choice. Strollers welcome. Leashed dogs welcome.
COURSE VIDEO: Watch a high-speed video of the race route- https://youtu.be/ISm230xZxSk
FAQ's
This year we're offering both in-person and virtual race options.
Join us on the morning of Saturday, April 30, at the Kennedy Center in North Quincy for our traditional 5K route through the scenic Squantum neighborhood. SOLD OUT!
Or, opt for a virtual race between April 30 and May 6. This option allows you to pick your own route and get your miles in on your own time. Virtual races can be done around the neighborhood, a local course of your choosing or even on the treadmill! The only rule is that the race must be completed in a single run (or stroll) just like a real race.
Sign up through our RunSignUp platform here: https://runsignup.com/stopthestigma5k2022.
The in-person race is now SOLD OUT! If you'd still like to participate, please consider signing up to run a Virtual 5K on the date, time and course of your choosing.
Registration fee schedule (same for both in-person and virtual):
EARLY BIRD
January 25 - February 8: Ages 16+ $30 pp, Ages 6-15 $15 pp
REGULAR
February 9 - April 29: Ages 16+ $35 pp, Ages 6-15 $20 pp
DAY-OF (Virtual only)
April 30 - May 6: Ages 16+ $40 pp, Ages 6-15 $25 pp
A small processing fee from RunSignUp will be included at checkout.
Weather: This event will be held RAIN OR SHINE
Bib/T-shirt Pick-Up: All in-person participants will be assigned a bib with a timing chip and those who register by March 25 will receive an event t-shirt. Bibs and t-shirts can be picked up at The Kennedy Center (Quincy Council on Aging) at 440 East Squantum St., North Quincy on Friday, April 29, from 4:30-6:30pm or on Saturday, April 30, from 8:30-9:15am. We strongly encourage participants to pick up on Friday if possible.
Parking: Parking is available in Marina Bay at 500 Victory Rd (in front of Marina Studios). Look for school buses to shuttle you to and from The Kennedy Center.
Personal Item Storage: Feel free to bring your personal belongings with you on the shuttle bus. Then look for the "Personal Item Storage" signs at the Kennedy Center where you'll be able to securely store your items prior to the race.
Finisher Awards: Medals will be awarded to the fastest Male and Female finishers. (Two categories: under age 40 and age 40+.)
Raffles: Bring a few extra dollars for our exciting raffles! All payment methods, including major credit cards, will be accepted.
Water Stops/Restrooms: There will be portable bathrooms available outside near the start/finish line. There will be one water stop outside of First Church Squantum located at 164 Bellevue Rd. Water will also be available at the start/finish.
Additional questions: call Paula at 617-773-6203 x28 or email pdaniels@interfaithsocialservices.org.
Yes! Walkers are welcome.
Strollers are welcome.
Leashed dogs are welcome.
If you chose the virtual option, log into RunSignUp (instructions will be emailed to you) and record your finish time and post a photo. We don’t care if it took you 30 minutes or 3 hours – we support your finish in any manner. It’s the process that counts!
Please also share a photo at RunSignUp, or by emailing us – it will encourage others and help spread our message of eliminating mental health stigmas even further.
We will have photo contests (with prizes!) in store for the best submitted photos!
You’ll be able to upload a photo when you submit your time or you can email them to us at pdaniels@interfaithsocialservices.org.
Those who register for the 5K by March 25 are eligible for a t-shirt.
T-shirt pickup will be held at Quincy Council on Aging/Kennedy Center (440 East Squantum Rd., Quincy) on Friday, April 29 from 4:30-6:30pm.
You may also pick up your bib and t-shirt at the Quincy Council on Aging/Kennedy Center on race day, Saturday, April 30, between 8:30-9:15am.
For virtual participants that live more than 40 miles from Quincy, MA, your t-shirt will be mailed the last week of April.
Our virtual Stop the Stigma 5K raises crucial funds to support Interfaith Social Services’ New Directions Counseling Center. New Directions serves anyone seeking counseling, but we pride ourselves on being a safety net for the uninsured and underinsured members of our community. New Directions makes mental health care accessible to everyone by offering a sliding scale payment system.
The stresses of coronavirus have brought even more people to our Counseling Center. We need your help more than ever to make sure all members of the community can get the help they need and seek out treatment without feeling shamed. Your registration fee alone provides one counseling session for a neighbor suffering with a mental illness.
The goal of the Stop the Stigma 5K is to raise funds for Interfaith Social Services’ New Directions Counseling Center. We need YOUR help to continue to provide mental health care to everyone. Your registration fee has already provided one counseling session for a neighbor suffering with a mental illness. If you want to help provide more counseling sessions, here are ways you can do peer-to-peer fundraising to help us reach our goal.
Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers!
- Facebook Fundraisers – Set up a fundraiser for Interfaith Social Services on Facebook and ask your Facebook friends to support your virtual 5K. Interfaith receives 100% of all funds donated through Facebook’s platform.
Use this link to set up your fundraiser: https://www.facebook.com/fund/interfaithsocialservices/ - Give Lively – Set up a Stop the Stigma 5K fundraiser here and share across multiple platforms including email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/interfaith-social-services-inc/stop-the-stigma-5k-2022
- Pledge Sheet – Download and print a paper pledge sheet and collect cash and checks.
Get your pledge sheet here: https://interfaithsocialservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/sts5K-pledge-sheet-2022.pdf - Invite others to run/walk – The more people that run, the more money we can raise! Invite your friends and family from across the country (or world!) to participate with you. Mental health care knows no boundaries.
Have your friends sign up to run. Registration includes a race T-shirt and the knowledge that you’re helping others get the mental health counseling they need.
Some sample language to use on your fundraiser:
“I am running the Stop the Stigma 5K in support of Interfaith Social Services. Their New Directions Counseling Center is a safety net for those in need of mental health care. We run or walk to erase stigmas surrounding mental illness and addiction and to support our family, friends and neighbors affected by these issues.”
Not able to walk or run a 5K that weekend? There are other ways to support us. Consider a donation or sponsoring the event.
Send an email to our race director, Paula Daniels.
Sponsorships
Learn more about how you or your business can sponsor the Stop the Stigma 5K in our Sponsorship Packet.
