Hike for Headache Health

Thousands of purple flags cover National Mall Park near the U.S. Capitol for Hike for Headache Health, the Washington, D.C. in-person component of the Clusterbusters #CureforCluster Virtual 5k. The event takes place during June, Headache and Migraine Awareness Month, offering two participation options: a memorial walk in D.C. or a virtual 5k that can be completed anywhere, including on a treadmill, neighborhood route, gym, or local park. The virtual 5k has no time limit, and its entry is designed to accommodate children, strollers, wheelchairs, and pets. The event benefits three headache advocacy groups: Clusterbusters, Chronic Migraine Awareness, and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. Registrants may allocate their fee to one group or divide it among all three. Teams can fundraise collectively, with awards for top individual and team fundraisers. The virtual 5k is in its 11th year, while the D.C. flag installation is in its second. The cause addresses cluster headache, which affects approximately 1 in 1,000 individuals and is sometimes called the suicide headache, and headache disorders generally, which impact over 40 million people in the U.S. and 1 billion globally. Purple attire, social media posts, a livestream kickoff, and the flag installation all aim to fund research, increase awareness, and connect individuals with headache disorders to support resources.