RUN FOR MENTAL HEALTH - STARTING NOVEMBER 8TH @ Sunrise
Join or Follow Brendan Morgan in his run accross the entire width of Pennsylvania (~341 miles) to raise awareness about mental health.
Brendan is a runner and mental health advocate from Reading, PA. He’s experienced in the marathon and ultramarathon distances. He is recently married to the lovely Dalayna, also a runner, who will serve as his crew chief during his run across PA. Brendan enjoys watching sports, building with LEGOS, working out at his local gym, and spending time with his pup, Loki. The run across PA will be his longest attempted running distance and he expects it to take around six days. Please join Brendan along the route, or join him in spirit miles throughout the event!
RUNNING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AT HEART
As someone who has stuggled with mental health firsthand, this project means the world to me. I’ve experienced losing my dad when I was 8 years old; losing my brother to suicide when I was 14 years old; and eventually trying to take my own life when I was 16 years old. During the grieving process after my brother’s passing I struggled a lot with drugs and alcohol. I struggled with that all the way until I tried to commit suicide. After that I just replaced the drugs with food. I gained a bunch of weight and was the heaviest I have ever been. I decided something needed to change and that it started with me and my own health. In 2021, I finally decided to lose weight. I lost 60lbs and was finally working on my mental and physical health. 2023 is when I started running. Ever since that day, running has shown me the true mental benefits that is brings.
My whole goal is to bring awareness to mental health and be the voice for the millions of people who feel like theirs fall on deaf ears.
Having been through the pain and seeing how easy it is to fall into the spiral of feeling like there is no way out, I want to show people you can make it out and that you don’t have to do it alone.
We are stronger together than we are alone. I never want anyone to have to go through the pain that mental health causes. When I am out running, all the pain and suffering that I am in doesnt compare to what millions of people are feeling. My pain will end as soon as I stop running, their pain does not.
FUNDRAISING FOR MENTAL HEALTH
I chose to use NAMI as my preferred organization because they are the biggest national mental health agency in the country. We didn't want people who aren't from Pennsylvania to miss out on the chance to get help. Everyone all over the country deserves the same chance as each other. The local NAMI for me hosts an annual 5k run to raise awareness for mental health, which is how I learned about them. NAMI also helps fight the stigma against mental health. Its okay to not be okay, and they embrace that whole heartedly.
A HUGE THANK YOU!!!
We would like to give a big shout out to the amazing community that has supported Brendan in this project! These organizations include:
Fleet Feet West Reading
Nemesis Fitness
Wyo Fit Clubs
East Penn Manufacturing
Mount To Coast
Trinity Nutrition
Wilson High School
