(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The On Our Sleeves 5K presented by The Big Lots Foundation, scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, is a community run and walk to grow awareness, break stigmas, and raise funds for The On Our Sleeves® Movement For Children’s Mental Health. The On Our Sleeves Movement For Children’s Mental Health, created by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, works to provide expert-created resources to all U.S. communities so everyone can understand and promote mental health for children.
“We are thrilled to be holding this year’s in-person 5K at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium,” said Ariana Hoet, clinical director of On Our Sleeves and pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “Not only are one in five children living with a significant mental health concern, but all children experience strong emotions and difficult moments. Every participant is helping us achieve our mission of providing free educational resources that break stigmas, increase mental health literacy and educate on the habits and skills necessary to support children’s mental health.”
Registration for the in-person event is sold out, but registration will remain open through Saturday for virtual participation or donations.
For those already registered for the in-person 5K, the race starts at 8 a.m. at the zoo (4850 W. Powell Road, Powell, Ohio, 43065). Packet pick-up begins at 6:30 a.m., and the program starts at 7:30 a.m.
Once participants have completed the 5K, they are invited to enjoy Celebration Village in the Water’s Edge area of the zoo until 11 a.m. There will be activities, snacks, beverages, and participants can stay to enjoy a day at the zoo.
Register online to run or walk virtually in your own neighorbood online. The cost to register is $1, with a commitment to raise or donate a minimum of $50 on or before May 6. Participants will receive a T-shirt and medal.
About The On Our Sleeves® Movement For Children’s Mental Health
Children don’t wear their thoughts on their sleeves. With 1 in 5 children living with a significant mental health concern and half of all lifetime mental health concerns starting by age 14, we need to give them a voice. The On Our Sleeves Movement For Children’s Mental Health, created by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one of the United States’ largest network of pediatric behavioral health treatment providers and researchers, is on a mission to give expert-created resources to all U.S. communities so everyone can understand and promote mental health for children. Our vision is to build a world where mental health is a part of the upbringing of every single child. Nearly 1,000 mental health professionals and researchers at Nationwide Children’s, in partnership with other trusted experts, provide their real-world knowledge and expertise to power On Our Sleeves.
Since the inception of On Our Sleeves in 2018, more than 6 million people in every state across the United States has interacted with the movement’s free pediatric mental health education resources at OnOurSleeves.org.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.6 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.