RALEIGH, N.C. — In recognition of Pride Month, businesses have grouped together across the state to hold events and raise money to support the LGBTQ+ community, and one way Raleigh businesses have shown their support is by starting a 5K run called Run for Love. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Run for Love 5K is back this year, and the event has raised $30,000 
  • Kori Hennessey is the director of education and programs at the Raleigh LGBTQ center and appreciates the community support 
  • The money raised for the event goes to help fun mental health, education groups and HIV and STI testing

Kori Hennessey, the director of education and programs with the LGBTQ Center, says this month is always busy for them, especially this year since the Out! Raleigh Pride Fest is back for the first time since  the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

This is always a meaningful time of year for Hennessey, as they are able to see the community they are a part of gain support.

“Such amazing people in the community that want to just do this for the, because they understand that you know, funding is needed, support is needed and all the different things,” Hennessey said.

During Pride Month, local businesses often come together in different ways to show their support for the LGBTQ community.

“Trophy and Runologie, they really wanted to do something to support the community, so they reached out to us and were like 'what do you think of this idea, we haven’t had any sort of you know LGBTQ+ 5K,'” Hennessey said, naming two Raleigh businesses that have created the 5K idea to show support. “The Run for Love, it’s just something that has been a really big part of supporting the center over the last couple years, even pre-pandemic when we had the first one.”

Donations are an important way to support the LGBTQ+ community this month, but Hennessey said there are more ways, “other supportive level there is always volunteer opportunities or just honestly coming out to something like this and showing your support  and being here — that means a lot to a lot of people.”

Since the beginning of Pride Month, support has continued to increase.

“Every year, I think it gets a little bit better and just kind of the overall feel kind of makes it feel so exciting and so much love," Hennessey said. 

The Run for Love raised more than $30,000 so far this year. Hennessey said the money will go straight into programs at the LGBTQ Center of Raleigh. These programs include mental health support, education groups and HIV and STI testing.