Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Nashville, Tenn. — August 1, 2025 — Free to Move announces its week-long Greenway Jog-a-thon, from October 12-18, 2025, to honor Dr. Alyssa Lokits during the one year anniversary of her murder on the Mill Creek Greenway in Antioch. 

 

The Free to Move Greenway Jog-a-Thon will begin with the Alyssa Lokits Memorial Walk & Dedication Ceremony at noon on October 12. Community leaders, friends, family, supporters and sponsors will gather at the Old Hickory Trailhead and walk a mile into the Mill Creek Greenway to the site of Lokits’ attack, where they will honor her memory with a bench dedication. Participants will collectively traverse all 107 miles of Nashville’s greenways during the remainder of the seven-day event.

 

"This event is a public commitment to reclaiming our shared spaces—greenways, trails, and sidewalks—as places where women move freely and fearlessly," said Free to Move Board Chair Calea Davis. "Safety is not a luxury; it’s a right. And this jog-a-thon is a powerful step toward making that right a reality.”  

 

Free to Move hopes to reach the fundraising goal of $107,000 through participant and sponsor support. Funds raised will further safety advocacy and support research to shape data-driven, equity-informed safety programs aimed to make public spaces safer and more equitable for all. 

 

The event officially launches the nonprofit’s partnership with Nashville Metro Parks and Recreation. This alignment will help infrastructure improvements across Nashville’s trail systems and provide free safety education. 

 

“Metro Parks is excited to join forces in this meaningful collaboration that strengthens our shared commitment to community health, safety, and well-being,” said Monique Odom, Metro Parks and Recreation Director. “Together, we look forward to expanding equitable access to safe, welcoming spaces and vital resources for all residents.”

 

The impact of Free to Move reaches far beyond the Nashville metro. During its Run for Alyssa 5K in March, the organization saw virtual participants from 44 states and 10 other counties. 

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In addition to its local jog-a-thon event in October, the organization has a goal of recruiting participants in 107 other locations across the world.  

 

“The heartbreaking reality is that Alyssa’s story is not unique. It resonates with victims’ communities across the globe—with every woman who has ever moved outdoors in fear,” said Free to Move Director Abby Lokits. “The outpouring of love globally in the wake of our grief fuels our desire to effect change beyond Nashville. Safety education and research are the first steps toward our vision for a safer world.”  

 

To learn more about the Free to Move Greenway Jog-a-thon, sign up or sponsor the event, visit https://www.wearefreetomove.org/jog-a-thon or sign up at https://freetomove.raceroster.com/.

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About Free to Move

Founded in honor of Dr. Alyssa Lokits, Free to Move is a Nashville-based nonprofit working to ensure women, and all people, can move through public spaces with confidence and without fear. Through trauma-informed education, advocacy, and community partnerships, Free to Move equips individuals with practical tools and drives systemic change for safer streets, trails, and communities. Visit wearefreetomove.org to get involved, donate, or sign up for updates.