WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – Westerville community members gathered Saturday for Night of Hope, a family-run event that raises mental health awareness.

Hosted by the Westerville Education Challenge (WEC), the run is being held for the first time.

The 5K race runners took off just after 6pm for the first of three runs on Saturday. The 1-mile race left the starting blocks at 7pm and the family fun run started at 7:30pm.

The event aims to raise awareness of mental health and work to end the stigma surrounding it.

The Westerville Education Challenge was inspired by one of our members last year who ran 24 hours (over 100 miles) to raise mental health awareness. The runner’s father died by suicide, the runner was in Saturday’s event, and there are dozens of others with personal ties to the cause.

“For us, the WEC, that is our mission,” said WEC President Kristan Robertson. Our hope is to raise awareness and let people know they are not alone.”

In addition to over 100 runners, the district’s beloved dog, Twinkle, took part in the event.