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Wisconsin Doctor Nears End Of 50-State, 50-Day 5K Tour To Raise Awareness For Mental Health

This article is more than 4 years old.

FiveFiftyFifty.com / Provided

If you've participated in a weekday 'Five Fifty Fifty' 5K lately in Wichita, Auburn, Flagstaff or Knoxville lately--you are not alone.

That's the primary message from Dr. Adel B. Korkor, a Wisconsin-based clinical physician who's running a series of 50 5K races, in 50 states, in 50 days, in an effort to amplify the nationwide conversation around mental health.

Thousands of runners and walkers from around the country, many of whom have deeply personal connections to challenges with mental health, have joined Dr. Korkor in the second year of his 'Five Fifty Fifty' quest, which is raising money for Mental Health America. Last spring, the race circuit raised more than $100,000 from more than 2,000 contributors, according to their website.

“Running and exercising has helped my mental health situation,” Korkor recently told WSOC-TV in Charlotte, the 16th stop of the 2019 trip. “I have panic disorder. I felt that it was important to enforce the role of exercise in mental health by establishing this program.”

@FiveFiftyFifty / Twitter

The noncompetitive cross-country adventure began April 27 in Honolulu, the same city where Korkor's 2018 journey started. The team has kept in touch with supporters around the country through social media, including simple Facebook Live broadcasts from a number of stops, like stop no. 9, Dallas, as well as Instagram Stories -- their current story shows the team rolling into "Lil' Rhody" for a race in Rhode Island.

Asked during that broadcast which races he was most looking forward to along the journey, Korkor pointed to the beauty of Alaska (which hosted a race May 22), but also the significant crowd they anticipate this weekend in Brooklyn. Runners can register for the Saturday morning race along Coney Island's Riegelmann Boardwalk here, and see the full list of stops and dates here.

And while this year's route has been a bit different, the impact on those the race series has touched around the country has been remarkable.

“We lost our sister to suicide in December after a long struggle with some mental health issues," race participant Takara Schomberg told KDLT in Sioux Falls, S.D. -- stop no. 30. "Losing our sister, our family has made a great effort to use that as an opportunity to talk to people and help people become more aware of the need for mental health services."

Those who do not have a 'Five Fifty Fifty' race in their own community -- there are about 11 races remaining around the Northeast and the midwest -- can join Dr. Korkor's mission through the 'Five Fifty' program, by committing to independently run a 5K (3.1 miles) on 50 consecutive days. Participants are rewarded for raising money with shirts and even Amazon gift cards.

The 'Five Fifty Fifty' 2019 tour wraps up on June 15 in Korkor's home state of Wisconsin, with a morning 5K at Veteran's Park in Milwaukee. Registration is available here.