The third annual Elizabethtown College Love Moves 5K, sponsored by the campus To Write Love on Her Arms UChapter, took place in the Jaywalk this Sunday, March 15.

Love Moves is a 5K to raise money and awareness about mental health throughout the Etown campus and the surrounding community. All of the proceeds that came from this event go straight to the To Write Love on Her Arms Movement. TWLOHA, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to finding help for those struggling with mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse and self-harm.

Just last year, this event helped to raise over $500 for the cause. Selling registration tickets, merchandise and raffle tickets raised profits. TWLOHA uses the money to go toward treatments for those who are in need, as well as to fundraise for more events to spread awareness.

Almost one in four Americans suffer from some type of mental illness every year; that is approximately 42.5 million adults in our country. Fifty percent of mental health conditions begin to show at the age of 14, while 75 percent are fully developed by the age of 24.

TWLOHA was founded by Jamie Tworkowski. During the spring of 2006, he wrote a about a friend who was struggling with depression, substance abuse and self-harm. He created a MySpace page in order to share his story and raise money for his friend’s treatment by selling T-shirts. Within a few days, news of the blog spread and caught the eye of many others who were battling mental health. Through tours, social media, the support of celebrities and events such as the Love Moves 5k, TWLOHA’s message has spread far and wide.

“We owe our success to the students, faculty and community members who continuously support our TWLOHA UChapter and its mission. With them, we hope to continue educating others about mental health and supporting those who struggle by holding such events as the Etown Runs for Love 5k,” junior Kimberly Krankoskie, president of the TWLOHA UChapter, said.