During a stroll along Milwaukee’s Riverwalk, Matthew Johnson had an epiphany.
Johnson, who lives in the Halyard Park neighborhood, often takes walks along the river and notices something puzzling: So few black people do the same.
“It’s just beautiful in the morning,” he says. “Watching the sun come up over the trees. Geese flying in the middle of the river. Marquette paddlers going down the river. I thought people needed to know about it.”
That’s when he had an idea: start walking the Riverwalk not only to raise awareness of it, but also to promote men’s health.
The idea for the annual MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run was born in 2013. A year later, Johnson participated in his first walk that also included running.
Now in its eighth year, the event, which was canceled for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, typically attracts between 275 and 350 people each year. Johnson said he hopes to reach 1,000 people at this year’s event, which will be held on Aug. 24.
There’s one change from Johnson’s original vision: The walkway will run along King Drive rather than along the river. That’s intentional: Much of the area was burned down during riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Johnson wanted to highlight the positive things happening on the street, where black-owned businesses are booming.
“We wanted to see 1,000 people walking down King Drive and bringing the people of Milwaukee together in a peaceful way,” said Johnson, whose company, Jump 42 Consulting, is sponsoring the event.
Kicking off the MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run will be Ashanti Hamilton, the city’s Community Wellness and Safety Director, and co-chairs Milwaukee County Mayor David Crowley. Also in attendance will be Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
Johnson originally envisioned the walk as a promotional opportunity for his men’s health magazine, which he founded in memory of his 85-year-old father, who died of heart failure in 2009. But the event quickly morphed into an effort to encourage men to be more proactive about their health.
“Men don’t take care of themselves,” he said. “Beyond violence,[black men]die from heart disease, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, all the things that lead to cancer.”
According to the Black Men’s Health Project, a national initiative developing culturally appropriate strategies and solutions to improve the health of black men, black men are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease, 60 percent more likely to die from stroke, and nine times more likely to die from AIDS than non-Hispanic white men.
Johnson said men want to take better care of their health but don’t know where to start. This event gives them a starting point. Young men might work out, but they don’t eat properly and they come off the basketball court and they’re drinking soda, Johnson said.
“Many men go to work every day to provide for their families, but what do they do for themselves to stay there? That’s why men die years younger than women.”
The event is aimed at men, but women are welcome to attend, and Johnson said women play a role in men’s health because “men look at themselves and how they feel about themselves to make the right choices.”
For Johnson, getting men to be aware of their health is a never-ending goal — the work isn’t done until no one dies from these diseases, he says — but the hope is that men, sons, uncles and husbands are educating themselves about their health.
“Building a healthier community, that’s the goal.”
Here’s what you need to know about the MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run.
When is the MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run?
The MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run will begin on August 24th from 7:30 a.m. to noon in the Deer Area at Fiserv Forum.
How to register for the MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run
Participants can register on the day of the event or through the event webpage at https://www.mke5k.com/. Entry costs $25 for adults and is free for children 11 and under.
What is the route for the MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run?
The walk/run will start in the Deer District on Juneau Avenue, turn onto King Drive and go up North Avenue before returning to the Deer District.
What to expect when participating in the MKE5K Men’s Walk/Run
The event will feature raffle prizes, including doorbell cameras, unlimited car washes from Scrub-A-Dub for three months, gift certificates to Dick’s Sporting Goods and swag bags filled with health information from event sponsors.
Before the run/walk, participants will have the opportunity to stretch with an early morning yoga session. A limited number of yoga mats will be available for free. Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mat. After the run/walk, participants will have the opportunity to stretch.
The event will also include a basketball skills challenge, allowing basketball enthusiasts to showcase their talents.
At the Health Pavilion, vendors will provide information on high blood pressure, diabetes, prostate cancer and colon cancer, as well as health screenings and healthy eating tips.
For a complete list of activities and schedule, visit https://www.mke5k.com/program-1
