After his mom took her life in late 2019, Shane Brown quickly discovered the limited resources available to help deal with the grief of suicide loss and connect with others who share similar experiences. Earlier that year, he had registered for the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon scheduled for May of 2020, and set out on a mission to honor his mom and raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health using the Rock n' Roll Marathon Series platform. Covid had other plans, but then so did Shane. By accident, he had discovered the power and therapeutic effects of using a recreational platform to help himself and others struggling, through a special connection and community beyond therapists' couches and the four walls of support group rooms. Through the midst of tragedy and a pandemic, RecUniversal was born.

In spring of this year, Shane, along with his wife and daughter will set out on a 7 week mission in their RV along the western region of the United States. With the generous help from the November Project and Yoga To Cope, Shane will be running 10 half marathons in 10 different cities in 7 weeks. Along the way he will be wearing special t-shirts serving to honor suicide victims, highlight mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and recreational resources in the region, and build community and the RecUniversal platform to serve as its own support system in those regions in what we hope to be the immediate future through 5ks. These shirts will be signed with words of encouragement and affirmations, etc by anyone and everyone he meets and connects with on his journey. Awareness is nice. ACTION is better.

This huge venture will be the precursor to really jumpstart RecUniversal and the RUn For Your Life 5k Series set to launch in spring of 2022, in which survivors of suicide loss, sufferers of mental health complications and suicidal ideations, and mental health advocates and allies will be able to honor their loved ones, their own personal struggles, or any mental health cause they deem fit through recreation, connection, and community.  We need and are asking for your help to get this initiative up and running!

Event Details

Support can be provided through donation, and/or registering for any of the virtual mileage challenge options to "RUn along with Shane" in which you'll receive the important t-shirt to write and/or design your own messages, and be entered in each of the four giveaways, including the grand prize giveaway. Registrants will be able to earn more entries through several different ways. See giveaway prizes and schedule, and contest rules below.

Giveaway 1 - April 3rd

1. $50 credit toward Milestone Running Shop
2. One pair of Goodr sunglasses
3. One black 18 fl oz Coffee Tumbler by Bindle Bottle
4. One bag of Sip of Hope coffee beans

Giveaway 2 - April 17th

1. $150 credit toward Milestone Running Shop
2. One pair of Goodr sunglasses
3. One 6-pack of non-alcoholic Athletic Brewing beer
4. One bag of Sip of Hope coffee beans

Giveaway 3 - May 1st

1. $200 credit toward Milestone Running Shop
2. One pair of Goodr sunglasses
3. One pink or green camo 20 or 24 fl oz Bindle Bottle
4. One 6-pack of non-alcoholic Athletic Brewing beer
5. One bag of Sip of Hope coffee beans

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY - May 15th

1. $600 credit toward Milestone Running Shop
2. One RecUniversal snapback or flexfit hat
3. Two pairs of Goodr sunglasses
4. One pink or green camo 20 or 24 fl oz Bindle Bottle
5. One Muir energy gel variety 24 pack
6. Two 6-packs of non-alcoholic Athletic Brewing beer

Contest/entry rules:

1. Mileage challenge registration = 5 entries
   
2. Each additional $1 personally donated = 1 entry
3. Create your own team and fundraise. Each additional $1 raised = 1 entry
4. Tag @RecUniversal, use #RFYLChallenge, and show us your progress on IG & FB = 15 entries
   1. 10 bonus entries for including your t-shirt and message in posts/stories
   2. Max of 3 posts/stories will be counted during the 7 week timeframe. Posting in thirds of total mileage chosen is suggested (i.e. 30 mile challenge: share when 10 mile marker, 20 mile marker, and 30 mile marker is hit!)
   3. 150 entries max [(15 entries + 10 bonus entries) x count of 3] per platform (IG & FB)

Be realistic with what you can accomplish by May 8th safely. Use the t-shirt to say whatever it is you want to say, connect with people, share your story, be a resource, and have people Sharpie it up with words of encouragement, positive vibes, etc! Tag @RecUniversal in your IG & FB stories and posts, use #RFYLChallenge, and show us your progress! No app will be used for tracking. Be honest. Be accountable. Be purposeful. Have fun.

If you would just like to donate toward the cause without participating in the challenges, we absolutely welcome that and appreciate any and all support.

*T-shirts and giveaway entries will only be given out to mileage challenge registrants. T-shirts will be sent just prior to March 20th. Stained by Sharpie markers are recommended for messages and signage. Winners will be announced according to the schedule above and contacted directly. Submission for additional entries will not be counted after May 8th.

The Trek

Tentative schedule subject to change:

• March 20th – San Diego
• March 27th – Inland Empire
• April 3rd – Phoenix
• April 10th – Las Vegas
• April 17th – Visalia
• April 20th – Sacramento
• April 24th – Portland
• April 28th – Seattle
• May 5th – San Francisco
• May 8th – Los Angeles

Follow along and stay updated on social media:

Instagram: @RecUniversal
FaceBook: @RecUniversal

*If you are in the above areas and would like to connect, RUn along, cheer him on, and/or sign his t-shirt with positive vibes that will set the RecUniversal tradition at future RecUniversal 5ks, please reach out to us directly at [email protected].

Donations and Registration

Donations and funds from ticketing prices will be used to support RecUniversal's launch of the unique 5k series in 2022 in some or all of the nearby regions he will be touring, depending on the tour's success. Your contribution no matter how small or big will directly impact the lives of survivors of suicide loss, and so many others in need of more resources, specifically recreational, to cope with the grief of suicide loss, and mental health complications.