CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – The Community Counseling Center Foundation is holding its 5th Annual Mary Mingle 5K this weekend in downtown Cape Girardeau. The popular holiday-themed run/ walk is anticipating a record-breaking turnout, with over 500 registered participants expected, making it the largest Mary Mingle 5K yet.
The 5K race will start at 8 AM on Saturday, December 6th. The professionally timed event, managed by Red Runner Racing, will begin at Mary Jane’s Bourbon + Smokehouse (across from Houck Fieldhouse), make its way through downtown Cape, and end at Minglewood Brewery at the corner of Broadway and Spanish Streets. Awards will be given to first, second, and third place in age categories for men and women 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+
A Holiday Tradition That Inspires Healing
More than just a morning of fun activity, this walker/runner-friendly event supports the Community Counseling Center Foundation, whose mission is to restore, bring hope, motivate, and inspire healing to mental health clients living with the challenges of mental illnesses and disorders in their five-county service area in Southeast Missouri. Foundation Executive Director Michelle Ramsey is excited about the projected attendance and financial impact. “We are anticipating over 500 registered participants, which will be the largest Mary Mingle in our history. Every single registration helps us bridge funding gaps and has an even more direct impact: each fee collected is designated to provide Christmas gifts for our 160 plus residential clients.” Ramsey added, “The net proceeds from past races have seen incredible growth. The 2024 Mary Mingle 5K raised over $20,000, and with this record participation, we are highly confident the 5th Annual race will exceed that success, allowing us to expand vital programs and directly add to the quality of care for our clients.”
A Community-Driven Success
Race Director Brandy McIntire emphasized the role of community support: “This event would not be possible without support from the community. The runners and walkers who come out to participate, the many volunteers who direct runners along the course, and numerous local businesses who generously sponsor the event all make it a huge success.” “It’s such a great event for an incredibly noble cause,” said Ramsey.
“The increased support shows how much our community values accessible mental health care. This fundraiser makes a huge impact on our overall fundraising efforts, and we’re so excited to host it again.” McIntire concluded, “Whether you run or walk, you are helping to make a direct impact on our community’s mental health, and for that, we are extremely grateful for your generosity.
Registration Information
There’s still time to get registered to participate!
When: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8 AM
Where: Begins at Mary Jane’s Bourbon + Smokehouse
How to Register: https://rb.gy/m6n7gf
About the Community Counseling Center Foundation: The Community Counseling Center Foundation exists to support the life-changing work being done by the Community Counseling Center in its five-county service area in Southeast Missouri. The Center and its Foundation operate with over 480 professional and support staff from 31 physical sites. The Foundation helps to provide funding to support accessible, high-quality mental health and substance abuse services to all who need them.