Simi’s Free Clinic Depends on This Race – And So Do Hundreds of Local Families
Daniel Jordan 
Simi Valley Gathers for a Race That Heals, Honors, and Helps
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — This fall, Rancho Simi Community Park fills with footsteps and purpose. On October 12, 2025 the Fredrick Michael Gibson 5K/10K and Half Marathon Walk/Run for Depression Awareness will take place. The event brings together families, neighbors, and local organizations to raise mental health awareness and generate funds for crucial services available at the Free Clinic of Simi Valley.
The run honors Fredrick Michael Gibson, who died by suicide in 2014 at age 27. His family, along with the Free Clinic, created the event to spark conversation about depression and to help others access care before it’s too late.
Participants walk and run through routes that include a 1K Kids Walk/Run, 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon. A pancake breakfast, community blood drive, and free flu shots round out the day. Volunteers and sponsors create a space for connection and support, grounded in shared experience and community care.
The event directly supports the Free Clinic’s mental health programs. Since 1971, the Free Clinic of Simi Valley has provided medical, dental, vision, legal, pharmacy, and counseling services to residents who otherwise might go without. The clinic plays a critical role in reducing emergency room visits and helping people access consistent, preventive care.
Local businesses can choose sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $10,000. Benefits include race entries, social media features, promotional banners, and radio mentions on 99.1 The Ranch. Every sponsor helps fund important counseling, medical help and outreach services for local residents.
Government data shows that, in Ventura County, nearly 10% of residents live below the poverty line, making access to free and low cost health services especially important. The FMG Run gives people a way to take direct action—by showing up, registering, or sponsoring.
Karen Finmark, the Free Clinic’s Community Outreach Coordinator, works closely with families and local businesses to ensure the event’s success. “This run helps real people get the support they need. And it brings our community closer at the same time.”
To register or become a sponsor, visit www.FreeClinicSV.com/FMGRun or call (805) 527-9632 x4.
This event gives Simi Valley a way to remember, respond, and rally around one another—with every step, every name, and every story.
