Join the Mental Health Europe team at the Brussels 20km

Mental Health Europe’s Run for Mental Health is back this year, and once again we are bringing together supporters, colleagues, members, and partners to take part in the Brussels 20km. By joining our team, you help promote good mental health across Europe and show public support for a rights-based, psychosocial approach to mental health.

Whether you are an experienced runner or prefer to walk, everyone is welcome. What matters is taking part together!

Why join?

By joining the Run for Mental Health team, you will:

• Support Mental Health Europe’s work to promote mental health and well-being across Europe
• Help raise awareness about the social, economic, and environmental factors that shape mental health
• Take part in a positive, collective action alongside colleagues and supporters
• Choose your own pace. You can run or walk the 20km

This is not about performance. It is about visibility, solidarity, and shared commitment.

Why is there a participation fee?

We understand that €40 may seem high, so we want to be fully transparent about what this covers.

In recent years, both the official Brussels 20km registration fee and the cost of materials have increased. To ensure we can continue organising the Run for Mental Health in a sustainable way, we have adjusted the participation fee accordingly.

The €40 covers:

• Brussels 20km race ticket: €35
• Official Run for Mental Health t-shirt: €5

Mental Health Europe does not make a profit from this event. The fee helps us cover real costs while keeping participation open and manageable.

How to join the team

To take part, you need to:

• Fill out the registration form
• Confirm your commitment to participate
• Agree to pay the €40 participation fee upon request after confirmation

Once registered, you will receive further information about t-shirt sizes, logistics, and meeting points closer to the event.

Please note that due to the way the Brussels 20km is being organised this year, participation in the Run for Mental Health team may not be confirmed until 26 March.

If places are not confirmed at that stage, an additional opportunity to register individually for the Brussels 20km will be available on 1 April. Further details will be shared with registered participants as soon as they are available.

Additional request: optional donation drive

We are aware that taking part already represents a commitment, both in time and through the €40 participation fee. This additional request is entirely optional.

As you may know, Mental Health Europe’s work is partly supported through donations. Recent cuts to social funding have increased our reliance on individual and community support to continue our advocacy, coordination, and awareness-raising work at European level.

If you are able and willing, we would greatly appreciate your help in running a small, personal donation drive ahead of the Brussels 20km. This could be as simple as sharing a message with your networks explaining why you are taking part and inviting others to support the cause.

To make this as easy as possible, we will provide:

• Ready-to-use social media posts
• Clear information on how to donate
• A direct donation link you can share

There is absolutely no expectation to fundraise, and choosing not to do so will not affect your participation in any way. Any support you are able to generate, however small, helps strengthen our work during a challenging funding period.

We look forward to seeing you at the starting line!