Participants in the mental health-themed 5K held at Nay Aug Park on Saturday were up for the challenge—not simply to finish well, but to fight the stigma surrounding mental health.

Lisa Evanofski of Wilkes-Barre came in last in her category, but she still considered the day a complete win.

“When I was in my 20s, I came out to finish really well,” she said. “Now, I run events like these out of a sense of community.”

Hosted by The Katie Foundation, the annual Halloween-themed event—which includes both the race and a mental health fair—raises awareness and funds for local mental health resources in memory of Kathleen “Katie” Shoener, who lost her battle with mental illness. It is officially named the “5Kate.”

Kelly Sherman was a friend of Katie Shoener and comes out to the event every year, this year bringing along her son Bode, 4, and her daughter Kayleigh, 1. To Sherman, the day is a wonderful way to raise awareness about mental illness in a family-themed setting.

In addition to tables and booths set up to provide resources and support, there was also plenty of candy available, and participants were encouraged to come in costume.

Diane Baldi, director of Hospice of the Sacred Heart, set up a resource table to get the message out that, even through grief, there is hope. Baldi, who brought along her granddaughters, was thrilled with the turnout and pleased with the moderate weather, which made the day at the park even more uplifting.

Joan Peterson, director of CASA of Lackawanna, set up a table to provide information about foster care. Currently, there is a shortage of qualified foster parents to fill the need in Lackawanna County, she said.

And although Peterson certainly had a serious message, dressed up as the “Tin Woman” from The Wizard of Oz, she found plenty of opportunities to interact with members of the community alongside volunteer Jeff Jones, who donned a scarecrow costume.

The event also included basket raffles, kids’ activities, and a trunk-or-treat.

Globally, over one billion people experience a mental or behavioral disorder, and in the United States, one in five people fights that battle every day. The organization’s mission is to educate the community about available resources so no one has to fight that battle alone.

“Mental illness is not a weakness” is one of the group’s mottos.