TELL Charity Walk & Run

The 17th edition of the TELL Charity Walk & Run will take place at the Tama River (Tamagawa) running course on Saturday, May 28. All proceeds from the event will support TELL, an accredited not-for-profit organization (NPO) with a 40+ year history in Japan, in its efforts to provide confidential mental health support and counseling to the international and Japanese community.

Roughly one in four people will experience a mental health problem during their lifetime, yet only a quarter of those who experience a mental illness reach out for support. Most fear that others will judge them negatively.

“Stigma and discrimination against those living with mental illness is widespread and reaches into schools and institutions of learning, employment, housing, health care and media,” says Vickie Skorji, TELL Lifeline Director. “It causes shame, prejudice and hopelessness, leaves many trying to manage the problem on their own, either suffering in silence, or masking the pain with drugs or alcohol. But mental illness is treatable, and recovery is possible when education, family, peer and community supports are available and used.”

The TELL Charity Runathon comprises a 10-kilometer run, 5-kilometer run, 5-kilometer walk, and 5-kilometer run for children, with prizes awarded to the fastest runners in the 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer runs. In addition, the first 600 participants to check in on race morning will receive a TELL Charity Runathon T-shirt. Additional prizes awarded to the top three girls and boys.

Participants can register at http://tellrunathon.com/ or on-site from 8:30 a.m. for ¥3,500 (adult), ¥2,500 (6-12 yrs old). Registration will take place at the Furuichiba Track and Field Stadium, accessible via Kashimada Station (Nambu line); Shin-Kawasaki Station (Yokosuka line); Yaguchinowatashi Station (Tokyu Tamagawa line).

The event finishes at midday, and proceeds rain or shine. Please join TELL in fighting back against the cost of stigma.

Race times: 5k 10 a.m. • 10k 10:30 a.m. • walk 10:35 a.m.

For further information, please contact Ben Beesley at benbeesley@telljp.com or 03-4550-1191.