Hi JWLA members,

We are excited to announce that JWLA, once again, will be participating in Freed to Run!

Following their success with Freed to Run, which fully endowed Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership, JALA and Gunster Shareholder Mike Freed have reinvented the six-marathon series established in 2017 as the Freed to Run Challenge, which began in 2023 with a new event format set on the streets surrounding the Duval County Courthouse.

Instead of running from the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee to the Duval County Courthouse over six days, participants, whether as individuals or relay teams, now complete half-mile laps around the courthouse within either a 12 or 24-hour timeframe. And with the pediatric medical legal partnership fully funded, the event has a new goal: to fully fund a $2.25 million Shelter for Elders Endowment supporting housing-related legal services for Northeast Florida seniors.

Participants engage in fundraising based on their event participation, with each participant or team measuring the distance run by counting the laps completed around the courthouse. The new format allows for flexibility in pace—whether running or walking. As an alternative to this exciting challenge, supporters can elect to participate in a 5K run in Jacksonville or a 35-mile bike ride from St. Johns County to the Duval Courthouse.

JWLA will be participating in the 5K race on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 11:00 am. The race takes place around the Duval County Courthouse. Each loop is 1/2 mile. You can register for the JWLA team FOR FREE at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ftrchallenge/team/1002595. Please also consider donating. We have a fundraising goal of $1,000.00. Please join the cause! The team captain for the 5k event will be Brittany Mills.

 If you are feeling extra ambitious, you may also register for the other challenges in Freed to Run, which include the 24 Hour Challenge, the 12 Hour Challenge, and the Bike Ride from St. Johns County to Duval County Courthouse at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ftrchallenge/register/form/classification.  

Once you register, you will get a personalized link that you can send to friends, family and others so that they can donate to you as part of our team.  People can click on your link and donate via credit card. 

Please join and spread the word around your office, to other members and at any JWLA upcoming events! The registration is super easy and is free.  You can walk, run or bike ride these events. This is a great way to get some physical exercise and support the legal community in Jacksonville.