Race Against Pain: Cluster Headache Awareness

The 9th Annual VIRTUAL #CureforCluster 5k for Cluster Headache Research by Clusterbusters is officially renewed for Saturday, June 22nd, 2024.

This year the #CureforCluster 5k Race Bags will only be available to U.S. Residents. We cannot ship outside the U.S.

Cluster headaches affect a smaller population than migraine disease and other common headache disorders, and a virtual 5k allows clusterheads to participate and raise awareness for cluster headaches in their hometowns.

We feel this is the best way to raise awareness and help fund the work of Clusterbusters. Whether it’s just you or a group of people, you simply sign up on our website, and you’ll receive your t-shirt and race bag in the mail a few days before June 22nd. (If you need to have your package sent earlier or to a different address, contact us ASAP.) Unfortunately this year we cannot ship outside the continental U.S. due to rising shipping and tariff costs.

What’s a Virtual 5k? A virtual 5k can be run or walked at any location so that you can join us from anywhere in the world on Saturday, June 22nd. You can use a treadmill at home or in a gym. You can run outside in your neighborhood or at a local park. You can bring your children, use strollers, or participate in a wheelchair. There’s no time limit, so you can run or walk 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) at your own pace. Your pets can even participate with you! One of the benefits of a virtual 5k is that there are no added costs of travel and hotel stays.

How the #CureforCluster Virtual 5k Works:

The first step is to sign up on our #CureforCluster race website. To receive your race shirt and other swag, you must sign up by June 8th. Again, we cannot ship outside of the U.S. You don’t have to run by yourself. Ask your family, friends, co-workers, and fellow clusterheads in your area if they’re interested in doing it with you. You can create a team and fundraise to support this important cause. or you can use this as an opportunity to share the harsh realities of having cluster headaches with those who may not understand that this brain disorder is devastating and dangerous. You can also ask your friends and family to “sponsor” your run by pledging to donate as little as $1 per mile completed or donating in your name. Once completed, they can donate that amount under your name via the donations page on our #CureforCluster website. (If you’re an avid runner, you don’t have to stop at 3.1 miles!)Identify your time zone in relation to Eastern Time US. The Clusterbusters Team will go live on Facebook the day before the event to greet participants on June 21st at 2:30 pm ET. Use this time zone converter to determine what time this is in your state or country: Time Zone Converter

Why Join Us? This virtual 5k is to raise awareness for cluster headaches, a form of Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia. These are not “headaches,” but attacks of sudden, severe, one-sided attacks that feel like an icepick or hot poker is stabbing your temple and eye areas. These attacks can occur up to 12 times a day, lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours (occasionally longer). Nicknamed “Suicide Headaches,” this brain disorder is known to be one of the most painful conditions known to man. The most effective treatment is high-flow oxygen through a non-rebreather mask, but the National Institute of Health has yet to classify oxygen therapy for cluster headaches, leaving many sufferers paying hundreds each month or going without treatment. To learn more about this serious neurological disease, visit this page about Cluster headaches.

Clusterbusters: The proceeds of this race fund Clusterbusters research and awareness projects. Previous #CureforCluster 5k proceeds helped complete a study led by Dr. Larry Schor at the University of West Georgia, which involved the psychological effects of cluster headaches on the lives of patients.

If you have questions, email michelle@clusterbusters.org

Share Your Progress and Participation on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) using the #CureforCluster hashtag: The main goals of our annual virtual event are to fund research, spread awareness, and support the cluster headache community. By “going live” or taking photos of yourself or your team/regional group of runners wearing your t-shirts, you can help us flood social media with inspirational images and messages of cluster headache patients. There may be a clusterhead in your area who is struggling without a support system and can benefit from your efforts to raise awareness.

Safety Warnings: Always follow the precautions advised for your health needs and be respectful of others around you. You can even bring your oxygen tank with you as participants have in the past. No matter where you’re running or walking on race day, make sure you have plenty of water available. If someone falls behind, make sure everyone is accounted for when you reach the end. Be mindful of area Covid-19 guidelines.

Lastly, June is Headache and Migraine Awareness Month, so feel free to add purple to your race gear to show support for all who suffer from head pain.