1,000+ turn out for Richmond's Speak Up 5K to promote teen mental health

RICHMOND, Va. — More than 1,000 people filled Richmond's Byrd Park on Saturday for the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation's annual Speak Up 5K, a community celebration aimed at promoting teen mental health.

Among those who crossed the finish line was Pete Holladay, 90, who is blind. His family said neither his age nor his vision was going to slow him down.

Cameron's mother, Grace Gallagher, addressed the crowd with a message of hope.

"Today is a celebration of mental health, but more than that, it's hope in action, and my daughter Cameron did not always see hope, so she created this 5K to let everyone know you're not alone, you're not alone. Look around right now we have over 1,000 people here," Gallagher said.

WATCH: How recent high school grad carries Cameron Gallagher's legacy with her

The event honors Cameron Gallagher, who dreamed of inspiring others with laughter and fun and letting teenagers who struggle with anxiety and depression know they are not alone. Cameron died at just 16 years old in 2014 from an undiagnosed heart condition. Her family, friends and community have held the Speak Up 5K in her honor every year since.

WATCH: Why Grace Gallagher continues to honor daughter Cameron's vision years after her death

CBS 6 previously spoke with one of the organizers, Catie-Reagan King, who says letting kids know they are not alone is especially important in the age of social media.

"Now you're constantly on, and it feels like kids constantly have to have a filter over them, whether that's a physical filter or just a mask that they're wearing. And that's really hard to see. And I've seen how much it is affecting kids in their confidence and in their ability to advocate for themselves," King said.

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PHOTOS: 2025 SpeakUp 5k in Richmond

WTVR CBS 6 is a proud sponsor of the event.