By: Regina Wright ~Staff Writer~

This October Xavier students, faculty and staff are joining campuses around the area by participating in the Warrior Run College Challenge for Week of Wellness on campus to raise awareness about mental health issues in the community.

The Warrior Run will be held at 5:15 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2014 in Mariemont. The Warrior Run is a 5K race with a one-mile walk in memory of Jim Miller, a former staff member at Xavier University.

Following the passing of University of Cincinnati student Brogan Dulle, The College Challenge was conceived by Race Director, Nancy Eigel Miller. This year’s Run and Challenge are in memory of Brogan Dulle.

“The Week of Wellness events were curated by an informal group of Xavier staff, faculty and students who wanted to leverage the Run and College Challenge to heighten awareness and education about suicide, mental health, and well-being within our campus community,” director of the Eigel Center for Community-Engaged Learning Sean Rhiney said.

The College Challenge seeks to involve universities from the area in a friendly, fun competition to raise awareness and funds for programs that support emotional well-being.
Universities will also compete by volunteering service hours to a local nonprofit or fundraising for wellness initiatives on their own campus.

The competition will rank Universities based on the percentage of their students that participate in the challenge.

Cincinnati State, Northern Kentucku University, University of Cincinnati and Mount St. Joseph University will be competing.

Xavier students can register untill 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 7 by visiting https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=9853 and going to “College Challenge.” Registration will cost $10.

Xavier students can sign-up to fundraise for the Warrior Run by visiting https://secure.getmeregistered.com/homepage.php?id=7612 .

Promotion for the Warrior Run will be from Oct. 1-8 and will foster conversation and awareness about well-being on Xavier’s campus.

Events include mindfulness training, a discussion on mental health awareness and a pledge of solidarity for those who experience mental and emotional health issues.