THE ART OF DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT
DALLAS TO AUSTIN
WHY YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS
You’ve been nominated by a past relay runner who sees something in you—grit, heart, and the power to inspire. This isn’t just a relay; it’s a mission to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention through storytelling and action.
The Say Less Projects Annual Relay Run is about pushing limits, forging deep connections, and showing what’s possible when we commit to overcoming challenges.
Keep reading to see what’s ahead—the road to Austin starts here.
MORE THAN A RELAY
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We believe running is a way to bring people together for a greater purpose. This relay exists to inspire action and possibility through the power of shared stories. By running 230 + miles from Dallas to Austin, we aim to promote mental health awareness, support suicide prevention efforts, and spark meaningful change in our communities through story telling.
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This is a mission-driven, multi-day running relay connecting passionate runners with a shared goal: to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention efforts. Over the course of 230+ miles, we’ll rely on teamwork, determination, and heart to achieve something extraordinary—together. This relay isn’t just about running; it’s about The Art of Doing Something About It.
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We turn miles into impact through storytelling, resilience, and generosity. Each runner contributes by sharing their story and raising funds, helping us achieve our collective goal. With every step, we’re not only running toward Austin but also building a future where everyone has access to inspiring stories that fuel hope and the mental health resources they need to keep going.
DETAILS
WHEN IS IT?
We will take off from Dallas on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 7 PM, with the goal of arriving in Austin on the morning of Sunday, May 25, 2025.
WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT?
If you want to join the team, you will need to pay a $50 application fee to help cover overhead costs for setup. Each runner will be required to commit to a fundraising goal of $1,000 to help cover the costs of the relay—including travel, food, vehicle rentals, and an Airbnb in Austin upon arrival—as well as our efforts to share stories throughout this journey to maximize impact.
We will also set a goal to donate a portion of the funds to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to support their efforts. We will set up your fundraising page and provide guidance to help you promote your campaign.
HOW MANY RUNNERS WILL THERE BE?
You will be part of a team of 12 relay runners, including 2–3 captains to help lead the effort. In addition, a support and media team will be following along throughout the journey.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A RUNNER GETS INJURED OR CAN’T CONTINUE?
This is where teamwork becomes essential. As a collective, you’ll need to be ready to support one another, and if a runner is unable to continue, someone may need to step up and cover additional miles.
Our captains will be constantly assessing the team’s well-being, but open and honest communication from each relay runner is crucial. If you experience any physical or mental concerns, we encourage you to speak up so we can adjust as needed and prioritize everyone’s safety.
WHAT’S IT LIKE ON THE ROAD?
Relay runners must be ready for anything—including rain, heat, storms, and unexpected challenges. While we can’t control the weather, we will do our best to be prepared for all conditions.
All relay runners will travel together in one vehicle for the entire relay, creating an authentic bonding experience. A team member will always be biking alongside the runners, with a support vehicle nearby.
Although we avoid highways and private property, the reality is that you are committing to running in unpredictable and potentially hazardous conditions. This includes oncoming traffic, possible animal encounters, construction zones, varying terrains, and running at all hours—from early mornings and midday heat to late at night.
Safety is our top priority, but this will be a demanding and strenuous journey. Participants should be physically and mentally prepared for all the challenges we may encounter.
HOW MANY MILES DOES EACH PERSON HAVE TO RUN?
Your captains will assess everyone's running ability and make adjustments as needed. We ask that you begin training ahead of time, and we’re happy to provide resources to help you prepare for the 230+ miles to Austin.
On average, each relay runner will complete 15 to 20 miles, broken up into segments of 2–3 miles at a time. This relay is not about pace—we prioritize safety and well-being above all else. Please note that once the relay starts, there will always be at least one runner on the road until we complete the journey. This means we will be running at all hours of the day and night.
WHAT WILL SAY LESS PROJECTS PROVIDE TO THE RUNNERS?
All donations raised collectively—along with contributions from our founder, Vincent, who has already started fundraising—will be used to make this charity relay possible. These funds will cover essential costs, including vehicles, food, gas, accommodations in Austin, gear, supplements, and the production of media content to document and share each runner’s story. This includes photography, videography, live storytelling, a personalized fundraising webpage, and promotional content to maximize the impact of this journey.
We are also partnering with Asics and Fleet Feet Dallas to provide each runner with shoes, shirts, and shorts for the run.
WHAT STORY ARE YOU COMMITTING TO SHARING?
First and foremost, we will never ask you to share anything you’re not comfortable with. However, the more real and vulnerable you’re willing to be, the greater impact we can make.
The purpose of this run is to push yourself and show others what’s possible when you commit to overcoming challenges in life. We all have a story, and we want to authentically tell yours. Your story can center around a major challenge you’ve overcome—whether personally or through a loved one. How do you take care of your mental health?
We will help you craft your story and document it in a meaningful way!
HOW WILL WE HELP YOU SHARE YOUR STORY AND THE COLLECTIVE STORY OF THE TEAM?
Our team will kick things off with a photo and video shoot to help set up your fundraising webpage and announce your involvement on Instagram. To maximize impact, we’ll ask you to accept collaboration posts related to your journey. While you can archive these later if you'd like, we’ve found that these posts significantly boost fundraising efforts.
Your story will be shared in a meaningful way—through a webpage explaining your "why," short interviews on our Instagram page, panel talks at our events leading up to the run, and throughout the relay run online.
Lastly, we encourage you to authentically share your involvement—whether through training updates, storytelling, or personal reflections—on your own social media to help with your fundraising efforts.
WHY SHOULD I SAY YES TO THIS?
Saying yes to this relay means saying yes to pushing your limits, sharing your story, and making an impact far beyond the miles you’ll run. It’s about being part of a team that supports each other every step of the way—on and off the road. You’ll challenge yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally while helping raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.
If you’re ready to turn your miles into something bigger than yourself, we’d love to have you on the team.
READY TO RUN OR PASS THE BATON?
Before we dive into the application, we want to know—does this sound like something you’d like to take on? No hard feelings if the timing isn’t right, but if you’re ready to push your limits, share your story, and be part of something bigger than just the miles, we’d love to have you.
Please confirm your interest by Friday, February 21st so we can extend the opportunity to another nominee if needed.
If your answer is YES, please fill out the application below.
If now isn’t the right time, no worries—just email team@saylessprojects.com to let us know you won’t be participating this year.