The 6th Annual Be the Light 5K Fun Run/Walk is held each year to honor the memory of Matthew Umstead, who passed away in 2018 after a struggle with substance misuse. The Be the Light 5k is a non-competitive fun run/walk focused on both awareness of substance use disorders and raising funds for Wake Monarch in memory of Matthew Umstead. The 5k will not be officially timed, but there will be a finish line clock so participants can gauge their run/walk time unofficially.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
9:00am Start Time
8:30 am Registration
Apex Friendship High School
7801 Humie Olive Road
Apex, NC 27502
About Matthew
Matthew’s stints in and out of rehab showed us how powerless short-term recovery can be. Recovery is a lifelong process. This is why programs like Wake Monarch are essential in the recovery process for teens. It’s extremely hard to heal in the environment in which you became ill. Giving teens a safe school environment is a key in the recovery process.
Recovery Matters! Every Child Matters! Matthew Mattered. He was the light of our lives. We will continue to let him shine. Help us be the light to others!
About Wake Monarch
Wake Monarch provides youth with the support, stability, connection, and education they need to thrive. Through Wake Monarch Academy, the Triangle’s only recovery high school, and The Lounge, our after-school Alternative Peer Group (APG), young people find a safe community, positive peer connections, and the tools to build healthy futures. Your support makes these life-changing opportunities possible.
The entry fee is $35 (increasing to $40 on race day) which includes a t-shirt guaranteed to all registered by noon on September 6th. One can also support the race by registering as a virtual participant for $40 which includes a t-shirt if registered by August 28th. T-shirts will be mailed.
A family of 5 or more can register for $145 which includes a t-shirt for each member if registered by noon on September 6th. Finally, one can register a virtual family for $145 with t-shirts guaranteed to all registered by August 28.