To anyone who met Cameron Gallagher, she was a shining star, with sparkling blue eyes and a heart of gold. To those that knew her, she was intelligent, vibrant, and reflective. But inwardly she struggled, as many teens do, with bouts of anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. And she was frustrated that issues around mental health were frequently overlooked, with shame preventing many teenagers from talking about their struggles and getting needed help.
Cameron excelled in academics and athletics as she navigated her high school years. But when she was a sophomore at Douglas Freeman in Richmond, she died tragically in 2014 at age 16 from sudden cardiac arrhythmia. Though her life was cut short, she left a powerful legacy. After her death, her parents discovered a detailed blueprint for an event she imagined, SpeakUp5K, in notebooks she left behind—a community event to raise awareness about teen mental health.
Channeling their grief, her parents, Grace and David Gallagher, marshaled their strength in the most significant way they could to honor their daughter. They launched the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, a Richmond-based nonprofit that provides education and resources to support teen mental health. Its flagship event is Cameron’s race, exactly how she had imagined. Though revolutionary a decade ago, SpeakUp5k is now an annual run through the city’s Byrd Park, providing literal steps to destigmatizing challenges around mental health and encouraging an open dialogue when people need help; 2024 marks its 10th anniversary.
“Growing up, Cameron struggled with anxiety and depression and felt frustrated that these diagnoses were too often unfairly regarded with stigma and shame by others,” says her mother, Grace, who is also the executive director of the CKG Foundation. “Cameron wanted everyone to feel valued. We are blessed that she left us a guide for this potentially life-changing race that would become her legacy and impact thousands.”
The genius of Cameron’s design was that she made the SpeakUp5k all-encompassing, with a built-in message in its title. Speaking up can be about anything—from something seemingly simple like checking on a friend to more serious subjects such as suicidal ideation. She also took a topic that often has negative associations and focused on the positive by including inspirational quotes in her notebooks, which the Gallaghers have incorporated into the race. “You are not alone” and “you are worth it all” are just some of Cameron’s quotes that participants see on posters—in Cameron’s actual handwriting—as they run through Quote Alley.
Photos courtesy of Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation. Cover photo by Mark Gormus. ©Richmond Times-Dispatch
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 17 percent of youth experience a psychiatric disorder, with 50 percent of all lifetime mental illnesses beginning by age 14. “Since early intervention makes a difference in long-term outcomes, being comfortable with speaking up and getting help is critical when it comes to taking care of one’s mental health,” explains Dr. Melissa Nelson, a Richmond pediatrician whose practice focuses on behavioral health.
A major goal of the SpeakUp5k is to underscore that no one is alone when it comes to mental health struggles. “We all have physical and mental health on a continuum,” continues Dr. Nelson. “And every person will go through phases when they don’t feel well physically and/or mentally. It’s part of being human.”
Amid increasing national rates of teen depression, anxiety, and suicide, providing people with an engaging community event creates connection, helping the SpeakUp5k to instantly combat the issue it serves.
“We especially love seeing school teams because that shows conversations are happening where teens spend most of their weekdays,” says Tara Lantz, CKG’s director of race operations.
“The SpeakUp5k is a great way to start the school year,” says Karen Brockenbrough, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, and faculty sponsor for their SpeakUp Club. “Helping teens take agency for the mental health of themselves and their community is timeless.”
Dr. Brockenbrough also appreciates how the CKG Foundation helps schools create a culture of positive mental health through the online SpeakUp Club and educator resources that help instill Cameron’s vision well beyond race day. Related toolkits for middle and high schools are provided free on CKG’s website.
“To watch the race grow in numbers each year has been very rewarding,” says Lantz. “We’ve had over 21,000 participants since 2014, with last year boasting 2,165 participants, over 250 volunteers, and over 50 sponsors/vendors.” She notes one positive of the pandemic was the creation of a virtual option which resulted in participation in all 50 states. “Every time someone crosses our finish line, it’s a win for Cameron’s goal of giving people a sense of accomplishment and hope.”
“Throughout the years I’ve watched people open up,” Grace says. “Their comfort level talking about mental illness has grown exponentially. The first few races people would pull me aside and whisper about their or their loved ones’ struggles. Now, conversations are much more out in the open. The stigma is going away and being replaced by strength. Asking for help when we need it makes us stronger. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.” CKGFoundation.org
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue.
