About The 5k

The Brandon Dukes Memorial 5k is a run that honors Brandon Dukes, a young man whose sudden passing sparked the inspiration and founding of Brandon's House Counseling by Susan Parr. All of the proceeds from the 5k go directly toward Brandon's House Counseling center.

This years 5K will be held at Chapel Lake Park

Saturday, September 21, 2024

5801 New Chapel Rd, Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Registration for the event closes on Sept 11th. Participants medals and shirts, along with other swag will be available race day!

What is Brandon's House?

Brandon's House Counseling Center is a free, non profit, non government counseling center that has serviced the mental health needs of local Teens ages 13-19 since 1993. All counselors at Brandon's House are required to have at least a Master's Degree in counseling or equivalent to ensure proper and effective counseling. Since opening, Brandon's House has never sent a bill to any client, or family of a client. The center is founded purely founded on the charity of others, and members of the community through events such as these!

Brandon's House Story

Brandon’s House is a free counseling center inspired by two special young men. While the founder, Susan Parr, was completing requirements for her Master’s degree in counseling, she worked with a teenage boy who had witnessed his father murder his mother. Due to restrictions put in place by his health insurance, this teen had only limited access to the mental health care he desperately needed to help him face this trauma. As a result, his healing was impacted by the barriers of insurance and cost.

Mrs. Parr was required to write a proposal to complete her degree, and she made the radical proposition that her church, DePauw Memorial United Methodist Church, remodel the old home behind the church to create a counseling center for teenagers - A place where teenagers could come for help for as long as they needed to do so without ever having to pay. The services would be free. While Mrs. Parr was completing the proposal, Brandon Dukes, a 17-year-old member of her church, died unexpectedly from a heart attack. His parents, Larry and Sharon Dukes, graciously allowed the new center to be named after their son.

From the beginning, Brandon’s House has been a local, grassroots agency that focuses on giving back to the people that keep it going. The center is 100% supported by the local community through individual donations, fundraisers, and small local grants. The vision of Mrs. Parr has grown into a counseling center that services about 100 families a year, with no one ever receiving a bill. The center does not bill any insurances or take state or federal funds. The focus is on the people of the community taking care of the families and youth within their area who need help.