In 2012 while away at summer camp, 12 year old Franklin resident Will NeSmith suffered a spontaneous brain hemorrhage — an event that occurs in less than .001% of the population.

Will spent 3 weeks in a coma and 2 months in the hospital — emerging only to learn he would spend years rehabilitating his brain and body to relearn everything from walking to talking.

To celebrate his survival in 2013 Will launched a beginner-friendly 5K to raise awareness for stroke recovery and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) — the genetic condition that led to Will’s brain bleed.

Since that inaugural race, thousands have completed the WillPower 5K.

2016 Details:
Race starts/ends on the Square in downtown. Start line is at Mellow Mushroom. Runners go out west main, around towards Jim Warren Park and then back down Main Street.  Police close roads right before the race starts at 7:30am and then open them back up quickly as the last runners come back. All our runners and walkers make it to finish line by 8:15-8:30am.