30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter

Celebrating 30 Years of Running!

Can you believe we have been running Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Mall for 30 years? We are excited to celebrate this milestone during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Join us for an active, empowering morning focused on healing for survivors and their families while helping create a safer community for all.

Who We Are

Shelter for Help in Emergency is working to end intimate partner violence and create a community where every person is physically safe and emotionally secure in their intimate relationships. We support and empower survivors through a combination of trauma-informed services, including a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, survivor advocacy, safety planning, counseling & emotional support, and legal advocacy & court accompaniment. Through prevention and education we equip the broader community with the knowledge, skills, and resources to recognize, respond to, and help prevent intimate partner violence before it begins. Explore our mission & services.

Important Information

Race Start: October 17, 2026 @8am, at the west end of Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Mall, right by Mudhouse Coffee.

Packet Pickup: We offer packet pickup in advance on Friday October 16, 2026 8am - 6pm, at The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St Ste C, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Race day packet pickup will be available from 7:15am on October 17, by the race finish line.

Course Map: Check out our race route here. Thank you to Mark Lorenzoni, who designed this route for us 30 years ago!

Swag: Run our 30th Annual 5k in style rocking your knee high 'Safe Love Rocks' socks. Stay for the great grab bag prizes from amazing local businesses who support our work.

Sponsorship: Want your name alongside a cause that matters deeply to our community? Checkout our Sponsorship Opportunities!