A walk/run for awareness is a community-based, non-competitive fundraising event where participants walk to raise funds, honor survivors and shine a light on those with mental health disorders and disabilities.
The month of March has been filled with opportunities to participate in these activities near Spartanburg, S.C. On March 14, 2026, a 5K walk/run called the TOTAL Ministries Race to Home Plate 5K took place at Fifth Third Park. TOTAL Ministries is a local, faith-based nonprofit that helps those who face financial hardships, providing things such as food, clothing, utility assistance and transportation. The run was to raise funds and promote community and fitness.
Traci Kennedy, executive director of TOTAL Ministries, finds joy in watching people participate in the 5K.
“Race to Home Plate was a huge success. While I did not walk or run, I was very involved in the planning of the race. It was so wonderful to see so many families come out to support TOTAL on such a beautiful Saturday morning,” Kennedy said.
The Disability Awareness Rock & Roll 2026 was held on March 21, 2026, at Barnet Park in Spartanburg. By participating, donors, walkers and sponsors were allowed the opportunity to make a lasting impact on their community by promoting disability awareness. The funds raised were used to support the programs of the SonShine Club, a nonprofit ministry that provides social activities and spiritual connection for those with special needs. The event included a one mile walk through Barnet Park, a vendor fair, food trucks and activities for all ages.
The Walk for Women at Spartanburg High School was an event organized by the school’s Girls United group to celebrate the empowerment of women and Women’s History Month.
Amira Jones (12) believes participating in a walk for awareness is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation and encouragement, and notes that the Walk for Women is a simple gesture that has a significant impact.
“To me, Walk for Women is walking for all the women around the world who cannot do it themselves. It is to show our support and recognize all the strong women who are out there and may need some uplifting. It is beneficial because it shows how strong of a community that we have and for everyone to know that us girls stick together,” Jones said.
Multiple virtual and national walks also took place in March 2026. One of them included the Walk 31 Miles in March challenge, organized by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, to raise awareness and funds for lung cancer, specifically early detection efforts. The goal was to walk 31 miles in 31 days, and those who participated could participate anywhere, at their own pace, such as walking, running or jogging.
The March Dog Walking Challenge was supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and challenged participants to walk 50 miles with their dogs during March to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. Oftentimes, dogs could earn a special bandana by reaching milestones. These two events were primarily done through Facebook and allowed people to post pictures of themselves, share progress and encourage donations.
Anna Vidrine (11) has never run a 5K for Awareness, but is signed up to run the Love Where You Live 5K in May, which supports the Hope Center for Children and other Spartanburg-based nonprofits. She is excited to support people and believes the activity will be beneficial for people in need.
“I’d love to run a 5K because I would really feel as though I’m making an impact and bringing awareness to people and helping someone along the way. When I was younger, I volunteered at a Multiple Sclerosis booth at a walk for awareness and found it very inspiring. I’m really looking forward to doing the Love Where You Live 5K in a couple months,” Vidrine said.
