Mental Health Matters 5k Walk/Run for Awareness

Lace up and join us on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for the Mental Health Matters 5k Walk/Run for Awareness! Hosted by All Souls Counseling Center on the UNC Asheville campus, this is a timed, family-friendly race with a purpose: normalizing conversations about mental health and connecting participants with support resources available right here in WNC.

Beyond the walk and run, you'll find a community Health and Resource Fair featuring mental health and wellness organizations from across the region — a reminder that asking for help is something worth celebrating, not hiding. All proceeds will go toward supporting All Souls Counseling Center's mission to provide accessible mental health counseling to adults who are underinsured and uninsured in Western North Carolina.

NEW for 2026:  All participants will be professionally chip timed!

Two walk/run options will be available:

1. Walk or run the route on UNCA's campus 
2. Walk or run around UNCA's Karl Straus Track

Pricing tiers are:

• Free for ages 22 and under!
• $25  April 28–May 4 (Early Bird Pricing)
• $30  May 5–September 4
• $35  September 5–September 18
• $40  September 19 (Race Day!)

T-shirt: The first 400 who register will receive an event T-shirt — design forthcoming!

Race Packet Pickup | Friday, September 18
• Time: 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
• Location: Asheville Chamber of Commerce — convenient drive-through pickup!
• Beat the race-day rush! We strongly encourage picking up your packet on Friday to save time. If you can’t make it, friends or family members are welcome to pick up your packet for you. Otherwise, packet pickup will be available on race morning.

Race Day Schedule | Saturday, September 19 
• 8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.  Participants arrive to find parking, walk to the track, and check in
• 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.  Check out the Health and Resource Fair
• 9:45 a.m.  Participants meet in front of the bleachers for a short program
• 10:00 a.m.  5k walk/run begins!
• Rolling awards ceremony as results are certified! (Usually 20- 30 minutes after runners cross the finish line).
Post walk/run and awards, enjoy top runner recognition and bonus Health and Resource Fair time

Awards
• The top finisher in each gender division will receive a $50 gift card to a local business.
• The top 3 finishers in each gender division per age group will receive an eco-friendly medal.
*Gender divisions are based on registration; awards within each division may be scaled to the number of finishers in that division.
Award winners must be present at the time of recognition to receive their medals/prizes.
Age groups:
• 9 and under
• 10–14
• 15–19
• 20–29
• 30–39
• 40–49
• 50–59
• 60–69
• 70+

Stay tuned for:
• Volunteer opportunities!
• Health and Resource Fair sign-ups!
• Course map!

UNC Asheville requires paid parking for all vehicles. (As of April 28, 2026, the cost is $3.) Their online portal provides convenient payment in advance using your license plate number.

Walk/Run registration fees are non-refundable. This event is rain or shine. 

For questions about the Walk/Run, please visit our FAQ page.

About All Souls Counseling Center:

All Souls Counseling Center (ASCC), a 501c3 organization in its 25th year of operation, serves as a leading nonprofit provider and community partner for quality mental health counseling, outreach, and education with a focus on those who are underinsured and uninsured in Western NC. Based in Asheville, we serve our region by providing individual, couples, and group counseling on a sliding scale, with no one turned away for inability to pay. We are deeply passionate about eliminating barriers to mental health services and seeking a like-minded professional. We continue to be engaged in mental health recovery and support following the impact of Hurricane Helene.

We provide individual, couples, and group therapy addressing issues that include, but are not limited to: depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, addiction recovery, grief and loss, life transitions, postpartum depression, parenting issues, sexual orientation or gender identity issues (LGBTQ affirming), relationship issues, and counseling for victims of crime and domestic violence. Group counseling options include Survivors of Suicide Loss for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, Grief & Loss, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

For more information, please visit our website www.allsoulscounseling.org

Race Day Schedule | Saturday, September 19 
• 8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.  Participants arrive to find parking, walk to the track, and check in
• 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.  Check out the Health and Resource Fair
• 9:45 a.m.  Participants meet in front of the bleachers for a short program
• 10:00 a.m.  5k walk/run begins!
Post walk/run, enjoy top runner recognition and bonus Health and Resource Fair time

Event Location: Straus Track and Stadium at UNC Asheville (600 Wellness Way, Asheville, NC 28804)

Frequently Asked Questions

When will registration prices change? 

Registration price tiers are:

• Free for ages 22 and under!
• $25  April 17–April 23 (Early Bird Pricing)
• $30  April 24–September 4
• $35  September 5–September 18
• $40  September 19 (Race Day!)

I need help with registration. Who do I contact?

For assistance with registration, please email communications@allsoulscounseling.org

Can I register on the day of the event?

Yes, though we encourage you to register early order to secure an event T-shirt with your preferred T-shirt size (if you register by the T-shirt deadline — to be announced). If you need to register on the day of the event, you may do so at the check-in table; however, we will be unable to accept cash. On the day of the walk/run, registration fees will only be accepted via card payment.

Parking: Where should I park on race day? Do I have to pay for parking?

UNC Asheville requires paid parking for all vehicles. (As of April 17, 2026, the cost is $3.) Visitors may park in lots designated as Visitor, Non-Resident, or All Permit Lots. To view all parking locations on campus, please click here and look for the yellow lots. Lots P9, P11, and P12 — located in the upper central portion of the map —  are closest to the Straus Track and Stadium and still require some walking after you find your spot. Important: your vehicle license plate serves as your permit once paid — do not back into parking spaces.

The link to register your vehicle is: https://parking.unca.edu/parking-permits/visitor-parking/ 

Is this event timed?

Yes! Starting in 2026, the Mental Health Matters 5 Walk/Run will be professionally chip-timed.

Can I volunteer?

Absolutely! Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities.

How do I register my organization for Health and Resource Fair?

Stay tuned for Health and Resource Fair opportunities!

How do I register for the walk/run as a sponsor?

Sponsorship information coming soon!

What happens if it rains?

We get wet — a little weather won't stop us! In the case of severe conditions (such as lightning), the race may be delayed or called off. We will communicate any changes to registered participants and announce updates on-site.

Will water be available on the course?

Yes! There will be one water station on the track and two water stations on the campus route, where participants can easily grab a small cup or bottle and keep moving! Bottled water and light snacks will be available after the Walk/Run, just after you come through the finish line! Please show your wristband to get your water and snack.

Are strollers allowed?

Yes, strollers are allowed. Please be courteous to other race participants, especially along narrow sections of the race route, and keep to the right to allow faster runners to pass easily on the left.

Is the course wheelchair accessible?

Yes, both the track and the campus course are wheelchair accessible. However, keep in mind that the campus is hilly in some sections. 

Is there somewhere I can store my keys and water bottle while I run the course?

All Souls Counseling Center and our event volunteers are not responsible for any personal belongings while you’re participating in the race. We advise leaving what you cannot carry on your person locked inside your vehicle. Do not leave your belongings unattended in the track and field area. No backpacks or large bags will be allowed in the track facilities; however, clear bags are ok. 

Can I bring my dog?

Only clearly identified service or comfort dogs are allowed on the track or campus route. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times, and any waste must be picked up.

1. Complete ¾  lap around Karl Straus track
2. Exit out of double gates and go up Wellness Way
3. Turn left on Campus Drive (road will be blocked off from traffic)
4. Turn left down Campus Drive
5. Turn left up Field Drive
6. Turn right onto University Heights
7. Cross University Heights in front of Brown Hall (water station located here)
8. Continue on University Heights
9. Turn left on Edgewood Rd
10. Turn left on University Heights
11. Take a left up ramp into large quad, continue straight and take a right at the end of the quad in front of Ramsey Library
12. Turn left towards small quad
13. Take stairs or ramp Delaney Hall and continue through small quad
14. Turn left in front of Belk Theatre
15. Continue past Owen Hall to University Heights and turn right- continue on University heights
16. Cross University Heights at crosswalk in front of Brown Hall again (water station located here)
17. Turn right on University Heights towards The Bulldog Statue/Wellness Way
18. Turn left at The Bulldog Statue/Wellness Way and continue towards track
19. Cross finish line into mental health and community resource fair in the middle of the track and field