Founders of The Recovery Through Repetition 5K for Recovery: Shining a Light on Mental Health, Octavio Cifuentes, Jodi Renert, and Roxanne Frye.
BOCA RATON, FL, April 23, 2026 — The Boca Raton community will come together on Saturday, May 16, at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) for the second annual Recovery Through Repetition 5K for Recovery: Shining a Light on Mental Health. Held during Mental Health Awareness Month, the event will benefit Recovery Through Repetition (RTR) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Melanie Simon Fund, bringing residents and neighboring communities together in support of mental health and recovery efforts.
The AFSP Melanie Simon Fund was created in memory of Melanie Simon to support suicide prevention and awareness programs. Meanwhile, RTR is a community-based organization that offers free workouts, yoga, scholarships, and support programs for individuals in recovery from addiction and related struggles.
At last year’s inaugural race, organizers raised $60,000 for these causes.
“We had over 650 people sign up to be a part of a day where we talk about mental health, we talk about recovery, and that it’s a good thing to talk about it,” said Jodi Renert, founder of the 5K.
In addition to raising funds, the event aims to send a broader message: no one has to face their struggles alone. By bringing people together, organizers hope to reduce isolation and encourage more open conversations around mental health. At the same time, the race serves as a tribute to those impacted by suicide and mental illness.
The event was founded by race director and RTR board member Jodi Renert, RTR co-founder and trainer Octavio Cifuentes, and Roxanne Frye. The idea originated with Renert, who wanted to create a race in memory of Melanie Simon, a close friend of 18 years. The two met through a Mommy and Me group and remained deeply connected until Simon’s death by suicide in 2024 after struggling with mental health.
Renert said Simon played a meaningful role in her own recovery, as she celebrates seven years of sobriety just one day before this year’s race.
Simon’s family will participate in the event as “Team Melanie,” joined by community members showing their support.
“What it means for me is raising awareness and, more than anything, that people don’t have to do anything alone,” Renert said. “A lot of people tend to isolate, and the most that it means is bringing the community together.”
She added, “It’s not just the race; it’s the fact that the community as a whole, collectively, all on one day can come together and just show everybody that… it gives so many people hope. And that’s what we need a lot more of to see things change in the future.”
All fitness levels are encouraged to participate, with options to walk, jog, or run individually or as part of a team. Registration for runners and volunteers remains open online until May 16 and will also be available in person on the morning of the event until 8 a.m.
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