Mental Fitness Inc. is proud to announce its second annual Self-Esteem Stomp 5K and 1 Mile Walk/Run is to take place in Spartanburg on Nov. 7th.
The event is 9 a.m.-12 noon, starting at Spartanburg Day School, located at 1701 Skylyn Drive.
An annual event to assist in building self-esteem, healthy coping and stress-management skills, the Self-Esteem Stomp begins with a casual 5K and 1 Mile walk/run for the whole family, with all ages welcome to participate, and finishes with the signature NOURISH Finish Line Arts Park. The trademark post-race party, the NOURISH Finish Line Arts Park, features creative and performing arts activities that increase coping skills and reduce stress. The entire family can learn about resiliency while having tons of fun.
Families, school groups, sororities, community clubs and student organizations from middle, high school and colleges will all be participating in the event. Last year’s event drew a crowd of more than 300 participants and attendees. This year’s sponsors and community partners include Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Spartanburg Day School, Pacolet-Milliken, RoadID, Girl Scouts of South Carolina–Mountains to Midlands, Partners for Active Living, Veritas Collaborative, Reasons Eating Disorder Center, and Girls on the Run Spartanburg. To get involved as a collaborator, sponsor or participant, please email NOURISH Program Director Jenny Bonner at [email protected].
Proceeds from the Self-Esteem Stomp benefit Mental Fitness Inc., a nonprofit organization, and its mission of shaping resilience in all youth through arts-based programs.
Registration is $25.00 for the 5K and $20 for the 1 Mile Walk/Run. All registered participants will receive a race t-shirt and goodie bag.
More information and online registration is available at SelfEsteemStomp.org.
Event Schedule
• Check-in begins: 7:45 a.m.
• 5k start: 9:00 a.m.
• 1 mile start: 9:15 a.m.
• Self-Esteem Stomp Spirit Awards: 10:15 a.m. (Nourish Finish Line Arts Park)
• Nourish Finish Line Arts Park: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Why “Stomp”
According to the Center for Disease Control’s 2015 report, one in five children in America are now struggling from a mental illness, the most preventable of all diseases. Most notably, between 30 to 38 million boys, men, girls and women in the United States are struggling with eating disorders – including binge eating disorder, which is found in obese individuals. Eating disorders often co-occur with addictions and other mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and are the leading cause of death of all psychiatric illnesses.
Working in collaboration with national researchers in epidemiology, psychology and medicine, Mental Fitness, Inc. brings together the evidence-based activities and programs including journal writing, mindfulness activities, and performing / creative arts techniques to improve mental fitness and stress-management skills and other shared protective factors that exist between eating disorders, addictions and mental illnesses.
Participants “stomp” to bring awareness to these issues and ‘stomp out’ the shame and stigma that keep kids and families from seeking help, education and guidance when they are struggling with mental health complications. With each Self-Esteem Stomp, participants travel one step further towards the goal of delivering primary prevention programs to all families – utilizing creative, performing arts, and mindfulness techniques made available at the NOURISH Finish Line Arts Park. In this way, people ‘stomp out’ mental illness and the norm of unhealthy coping skills while helping prepare all children to live healthy, resilient lives.