Brandon Damm is organizing the fourth Rock & Run for Mental Health at Rochester Community Park on September 7, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon. It will benefit Heritage Behavioral Health in Decatur, which focuses on suicide prevention. The event features a 5k run, a 1-mile fun run, live music, yoga, and wellness vendors.
If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988.
Randy Eccles: Welcome back to Community Voices. I'm co-host Randy Eccles. We're joined today by Brandon Damm. Brandon, welcome. First of all, a little bit about yourself. Are you from Springfield originally, or where are you living now?
Brandon Damm: I am from Springfield. I have lived here the majority of my life.
Randy Eccles: What do you do?
Brandon Damm: For my day job, I'm the public information officer for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Outside of that, I am the volunteer director for Rock & Run for Mental Health.
Randy Eccles: That's what we want to talk about a little bit more today, Rock & Run for Mental Health. Running or exercise in general is just good for your mental health increasingly, but this is not only a run to help people who want to participate; it helps folks beyond that.
Brandon Damm: Yes, yeah, yeah.
Randy Eccles: Tell us how it works.
Brandon Damm: The event itself is a combination of multiple things. There's a 5K run and a one-mile fun run, whatever you choose to do. There's also yoga. There is live music that we have every year as well. The band this year is Vibe.n.Rant, with an R&B, funk type of vibe -- some Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars type of music. Then we have wellness vendors of all types, whether it's massage therapy, a physical therapist, and local nonprofits that are in the realm of mental health or substance abuse -- other vendors as well.
Randy Eccles: Sounds like fun. When is it again?
Brandon Damm: It's Sunday, September 7, at Rochester Community Park. It's from 9 a.m. to noon.
Randy Eccles: When does somebody need to get registered for it?
Brandon Damm: You're welcome to register up until event day.
Randy Eccles: Is there a cost then to register?
Brandon Damm: Right now it's about $35 and run proceeds go to Heritage Behavioral Health Center in Decatur.
Randy Eccles: The event is in Rochester, and Decatur is where Heritage Behavioral Health is. Do they help folks throughout central Illinois, or what's the region?
Brandon Damm: They do, they help folks throughout central Illinois. They offer a variety of services, including for the homeless, those struggling with substance abuse issues, those dealing with mental health issues. They have a variety of services there. They're currently developing a new facility in an old department store, building there to expand their services to further reach the community. Each year we find a different nonprofit that is in the mental health realm and donate the run proceeds to them.
Randy Eccles: I saw that you raised about $26,000. Was that through just one race or the past two races?
Brandon Damm: The past two years. Currently, we're above $30,000 we've raised over the last three years.
Randy Eccles: Have you done the run?
Brandon Damm: I ran the course, but not during the event. I’m busy with a lot of other things, getting it all organized, making it happen for sure. I have participated in.
Randy Eccles: There's a brand around the country, “Rock'n'Roll Marathon.”. I helped with the first one in Arizona, and they set up a stage about every mile with bands along the route. So there was music playing as the runners came by, helping keep their motivation, keep that beat. You have a band at this event, are they playing during the 5K, or is it at the end of the event?
Brandon Damm: It's the culmination of the event. The band performs at the pavilion in the park. We do have course marshals along the route and encourage them to play music on Bluetooth speakers so when people are running by, they're hearing music.
Randy Eccles: Most folks probably use their headphones these days?
Brandon Damm: Yeah.
Randy Eccles: How are you doing with volunteers? Do you have everybody you need for this year?
Brandon Damm: We have volunteers, but more would be great. People can sign up on our website, where there's a volunteer tab. It's rock4mentalhealth.com.
Randy Eccles: Tell us about the need. It sounds like a fun day, a fun event, and a good opportunity for anybody who likes to run. Even if you don't like to run, there's a one-mile fun run. But the fundraising comes from the registration fees, also maybe sponsorships?
Brandon Damm: There are sponsors that assist with the event. Partial proceeds from that will go to the charity after event expenses -- mental health awareness. Statistically, one in five people in the last year has experienced a mental health crisis. It continues to tick up -- whether it's world events or social media, the news things that are impacting us, or even things we experience in our personal lives. I saw a need here in the Springfield community for an event like this. There are charity 5Ks for so many causes out there, and I wanted to do something for this cause. It not only benefits the charities that receive the funds, but also the communities that participate. People know that they're not alone, that there are services out there for them, and that there are people that are like minded.
Randy Eccles: You noted how things are getting more acute with mental health. The pandemic might have been one of those things where people didn't know what was going to be next, and uncertainty is never helpful. There's a lot going on right now, and it's all amplified by social media, which you can almost never turn off. If people want to support this, they can go to rock4mentalhealth.com. If somebody is feeling down, having a mental health challenge, where should they go?
Brandon Damm: There are resources online. If it's an emergency situation, call 911, but there is a helpline out there, 988, for those who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Whether you're thinking self-harm thoughts or you're feeling hopeless, 988 is a great resource.
Randy Eccles: One of the mental health aspects that Rock & Run for Mental Health supports or helps with is also suicide prevention.
Brandon Damm: Correct.
Randy Eccles: How did you get the idea to start this? You just saw the need?
Brandon Damm: Yeah, I saw the need. Mental health as a subject, I’m passionate about as someone who's experienced depression and anxiety, and gone through some things. Also, through my love of music, going to concerts, I know that music can be a resource for a person's mental health. The movement component with the exercise of running or walking, music, and mental health. It's all a good combination together.
Randy Eccles: Rochester is a nice location for this. It's going to be September 7, at the Rochester Community Park. Do they have a trail there?
Brandon Damm: There is a trail, and it connects to the Lost Bridge Trail that runs from IDOT to Rochester.
Randy Eccles: It’s the bike trail and walking path by the Lost Bridge Trail, which will be great.
Randy Eccles: Brandon, you wanted to take your love of music and match it with a mental health charity. What type of music do you like?
Brandon Damm: I lean towards rock music and the different sub-genres under that, alternative and such that leans that direction. We’ve had blues artists. All the bands tend to be cover bands. The first year was more of a hard rock band, and this year is more of an R&B style band.
Randy Eccles: Do you try to find local bands? What is the band that's playing this year?
Brandon Damm: They're called Vibe.n.Rant.
Randy Eccles: Do they have music available?
Brandon Damm: They are a cover band. They're on social media, and people can check out their music there.
Randy Eccles: Anything else you'd like to share with us about the event or what's going on right now?
Brandon Damm: People are welcome to sign up at rock4mentalhealth.com. If you want more information, it’s on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Search Rock & Run for Mental Health.
Randy Eccles: There's a challenge for a lot of people when they're not feeling well, and it makes it hard to help them, which is that they don't want to disclose it or they feel embarrassed by it. What do you suggest that somebody who is running into those issues can do?
Brandon Damm: The first step to healing is to speak it out and to communicate with someone about your struggles, because internalizing it and keeping it in your head is not healthy. Whether you feel comfortable talking to a friend or family member, you know some people don't. then there's that 988 number as well. There are online resources. There are therapists in the community. Check with your employer, your insurance company, look around, do the research, and find someone to talk to. Whether it's hooking up with a community group, it doesn't even have to be mental health-related. Getting out there, socializing. You don't have to tell the world everything, but it's good to connect with someone, and it'll help you in that journey.
Randy Eccles: We had a segment recently about loneliness as a major contributor to wellness, especially in young men and people over 80. They've lost their friends they've had life-long. It’s important to admit it is a big deal. I've heard more people lately acknowledge a level of anxiety or say. “I'm not having a good day.” That's helpful to have out there. Don't be afraid of sharing. We appreciate what you're doing, Brandon. Thanks for joining us. Brandon Damm is putting on the Rock & Run for Mental Health on September 7, 9 a.m. to noon, at Rochester Community Park. The benefits this year will go over to the Heritage Behavioral Health facility in Decatur. You could get a hoodie, you could get a metal, have some fun, hear a band, do some yoga.
Brandon Damm: Yeah!
Randy Eccles: Should be a nice day.
Brandon Damm: It's OK to not be OK. Now let's break the stigma and let people know that there's a community out there for them.
Randy Eccles: Thanks for joining us on Community Voices.
