Second Annual Chasing Freedom 5K Set For Saturday In Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Hunter Whitley Butterfly Initiative is gearing up for its second annual Chasing Freedom 5K Race and Post-Race Celebration on Saturday, 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 check-in for the 5K race will begin at 7 a.m. with the race set to start at 8 a.m. and finish at Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa.

Participants and attendees are invited to enjoy a celebration and community awareness event afterward featuring live music, food trucks, speakers and various vendors.

Music will be provided by Sadie McClendon, Greg Whalen, Tyler Stevenson and Eclectick.

Food trucks will also be set up by Delightful Cookies and Treats, Archibald's & Woodrow's BBQ and Urban Cookhouse.

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 honors the 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 earlier this year. “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 aims to continue 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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