The Purpose

Why We Run

Shea’s Chase was founded in loving memory of Shea McKenna, who died by suicide on June 8, 2014. On that day we lost a dear friend, a loved one, a brother, and a son. The next year, Shea’s Chase was established as a movement to break the stigma surrounding mental illness, to get people to think of their mental health the same way as their physical health, to communicate hope and to increase the availability of services and support for those in our community who are struggling.

The first annual Shea’s Chase 5k Run/Walk was held in November of 2015, and we chose to donate all proceeds to Mental Health Greensboro, a local nonprofit that provides mental health education and free peer support and recovery services in the community. In 2022, Mental Health Greensboro merged services with the Kellin Foundation, and this year’s run will benefit the free counseling, peer support and other services Kellin Foundation provides. Over the years we have raised over $400,000, with all proceeds going towards the expansion of mental health programs, all due to the generosity of community members and organizations like yours.

An Exercise in Exercise

Shea’s Chase is a cause with a very appropriate “exercise in exercise”, a 5K run/walk, as it’s primary engine.  The core goals of Shea’s Chase are to help:

  • De-stigmatize mental health challenges.
  • De-stigmatize suicide and lend support to survivors.
  • Raise awareness of suicide prevention.
  • Highlight the link between mental health and physical health, and promote exercise as a tool to help maintain wellness.
  • Communicate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress as obstacles to contentment and productivity.
  • Communicate hope, support, and love to sufferers and their family and friends.
  • Raise awareness of services and programs to help those in recovery from manage health challenges.
  • Help fund leading, local organizations aligned with the above.

Donate

Kellin Foundation

Kellin Foundation has been established as the sole financial beneficiary of Shea’s Chase. 100% of proceeds will go to program support and expansion at the Kellin Foundation.

The Kellin Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and has been a partner and neighbor in Greensboro and Guilford County since 2013. The Kellin Foundation’s mission is to strengthen resilience among children, families, adults and communities through trauma-informed behavioral health services focused on prevention, treatment, and healing. Just a few of the programs and services they provide are:

Free counseling for children and adults:Kellin Foundation provides behavioral health services, including therapy, for adults, children, teens, and their families with a focus on people who have experienced trauma. This includes exposure to violence, loss of family, or other stressful events.

Free peer support, wellness classes and support groups:  Integrated peer support services allow community members to work on recovery in various programs.

QPR Suicide Prevention Training: a nationally recognized best-practices program offering training in suicide / crisis aversion.

Case Management: We realize families may have many needs that go beyond peer support and counseling such as housing, access to food, and job training and more. Case coordinators listen to needs and wants, and connect people to the services provided by Kellin Foundation, as well as, our partner organizations.

Kellin Foundation provides free services that help clients break cycles of trauma that contribute to mental health and substance use challenges. Our team of highly-trained professionals helps people process what has happened to them, to practice new skills that contribute to healing, and to gain confidence that they can chart a different course for themselves and their families.

To achieve our mission, we provide evidence-based, trauma-responsive counseling, peer support, advocacy, and case coordination services. In addition, we provide training and facilitate teams working together to build a stronger Guilford County.

Impact

Thanks to the generosity of Shea’s Chase supporters, Kellin Foundation will be able to:

  • Provide free counseling to more children and adults in Guilford County. 
  • Expand community outreach and strengthen the resilience of families in our community.
  • Provide over 10,000 hours of recovery support services.
  • Teach over 500 recovery skills classes throughout the year.
  • Hold almost 600 peer-led support groups for individuals in recovery from mental health diagnoses, and their families.
  • Have additional staff certified as adult QPR Suicide Intervention instructors, which greatly expands Kellin Foundation’s ability to provide training in the community on how to recognize and aid individuals struggling with suicidal ideation.

Shea’s Chase is excited about the benefits and growth our race will have on the Kellin Foundation and their free services. We look forward to helping expand the impact the Kellin Foundation has on our community.