Hunter Whitley Butterfly Initiative Gearing Up For Annual 5K Race

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Hunter Whitley Butterfly Initiative announced this week that it will host the annual Chasing Freedom 5K Race and Post-Race Celebration on Nov. 2.

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The event will honor Alabama veterans while raising awareness about mental health issues affecting servicemen and women.

Organizers say the 5K race will start at 8 a.m. and finish at Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa, with participants and attendees invited to enjoy a celebration and community awareness event afterward that will feature live music, food trucks, speakers and various vendors.

The Hunter Whitley Butterfly Initiative is a nonprofit that works to address veteran mental health challenges, including the suicide crisis and the stigma surrounding mental health.

The initiative is named in memory of Brookwood native Hunter Chase Whitley — a 23-year-old Marine Corps infantryman who took his own life on Nov. 13, 2022.

Whitley participated in the Kabul evacuation in August 2021 before returning to Tuscaloosa to study computer science at The University of Alabama.

“Hunter’s story highlights the urgent need to address the rising mental health crisis among veterans,” Jeff Walker said. “By organizing events like the Chasing Freedom 5K, we aim to bring communities together, educate families, and support veterans and their families.”

Walker, Whitley's grandfather, also said the initiative is dedicated to continuing Whitley’s legacy by promoting mental health awareness and offering practical support.

For more information or to support the Chasing Freedom 5K Race and Post Race Celebration, contact (205) 246-7905.

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