Lace Up, Show Up, Speak Up: Simi Valley’s Run for Mental Health Awareness Happens Sunday
Daniel Jordan 
Simi Valley Steps Up for Mental Health: The Fredrick Michael Gibson Run Returns This Sunday
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — When hundreds of runners take their marks this Sunday morning at Rancho Simi Community Park, it won’t just be for medals or personal bests — it will be for something far more important: to save lives. The annual Fredrick Michael Gibson 5K/10K & Half Marathon Walk/Run for Depression Awareness is more than a race. It’s a community coming together to confront one of today’s most silent and devastating struggles — depression — and to honor a young man whose life, brilliance, and compassion continue to inspire others to seek help and offer hope.
It’s Not Too Late to Join
Even though online registration is closed, Simi Valley residents still have time to take part. You can register in person on Saturday, October 12, from 1 to 5 p.m. at 99.1 The Ranch Radio Station inside the Simi Town Center Mall, or on race day starting at 6 a.m. at the park, located at the corner of Erringer Road and Royal Avenue.
Race Director Karen Finmark encourages anyone considering it to show up. “You don’t have to be an athlete to join us,” she said. “Just being there — walking, running, or cheering — means you’re helping someone who may be fighting in silence.”
A Community Running Toward Hope
The event raises money for the Free Clinic of Simi Valley’s counseling department, which provides low-cost and free mental health services to local residents. The need for those services has never been greater.
Depression remains one of the most common mental health challenges in America, affecting about one in five adults. Yet stigma, shame, and fear often prevent people from reaching out. This run helps change that narrative by creating a safe, visible space where the community can talk openly about mental health — and remind people that help is always available.
The day begins with the Half Marathon at 7:00 a.m., followed by the 5K and 10K at 8:15 a.m., and the Kids Run at 9:30 a.m. Dogs are welcome (on leashes) and even get their own race “swag.” Children who finish their run receive medals, and everyone who participates gets a shirt and goody bag.
Top finishers will receive cash prizes — $500 for the half marathon, $250 for the 10K, and $100 for the 5K — and all runners are invited to a free pancake breakfast hosted by the Simi Valley YMCA after the race.
The Story Behind the Name
The event’s namesake, Fredrick Michael Gibson (2/4/87 – 11/6/14), was a bright, kind, and deeply loved young man from Simi Valley who lost his life to depression at just 27. Fredrick was completing his final year at the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy, and already had a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from UC Davis. He worked in a lab researching the AIDS virus with Dr. R. Holland Cheng, and even published a paper in the American Medical Association’s Virology Journal.
Behind those achievements, however, Fredrick battled feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt — struggles that friends and family never imagined could take him from them.
He loved tennis, video games, and family dinners. He was a loyal friend, a caring son to Kim and Keith Gibson, a devoted brother to Cathryn and Caryn, and the beloved nephew of Karen Finmark, who now directs the event held in his honor.
Fredrick’s story became a call to action. In 2017, the Free Clinic renamed its former “Tooth Fairy Fun Run” to the Fredrick Michael Gibson Run for Depression Awareness, shifting its focus from dental health to mental health. The change reflected both the Gibson family’s loss and the Free Clinic’s mission: to help others find hope and healing before it’s too late.
Why It Matters
Events like this one are crucial, not just for fundraising, but for starting conversations that save lives. According to the Ventura County Civic Alliance’s 2023 State of the Region Report, mental health needs in the county continue to grow, particularly among young adults. The Free Clinic’s programs provide counseling, therapy, and crisis support for anyone in need — regardless of income or insurance.
Finmark says the event’s real victory isn’t measured in finish times but in lives touched. “Every person who runs, walks, or volunteers is helping someone else feel less alone,” she said. “That’s what this day is about — reminding our community that depression is treatable, and that there is always a reason to hold on.”
Hope Is Here — and Help Is Available
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, help is available right now:
- Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- Text “HOME” to 741741 to connect with a trained counselor
- In emergencies, call 911
No one has to face mental illness alone. Fredrick’s story — and this community’s response — remind us that healing starts when we come together, talk about the hard things, and take one step forward, one mile at a time.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, October 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Rancho Simi Community Park (Duck Park, corner of Erringer Rd. and Royal Ave.)
Packet Pickup: Saturday, Oct. 12, 1–5 p.m. at 99.1 The Ranch (Simi Town Center Mall)
Sunday, Oct. 12, 6–7:45 a.m. at the park
For details, visit www.freeclinicsv.com/fmgrun
or contact Karen Finmark at 805-404-9585.
It’s not too late to register, lace up your shoes, and be part of something that truly matters. This Sunday, Simi Valley won’t just be running — it will be running toward hope.
