Nearly 200 mental health campaigners participated in a fundraising walk for the Finger Lakes chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness at Ithaca’s Stewart Park on May 4, bringing in $34,534 for NAMI’s support and education programs.
People (and people’s best friends) walking for mental health at Stewart Park
The total far exceeded the organization’s $25,000 goal, but for NAMI-FL Executive Director Sandra Sorensen the event’s success could not be measured in numbers or dollars.
“After the hustle and bustle of setting up and getting things ready, the energy in the Stewart Park pavilion was electrifying,” she said. “It was this feeling that shouted success to me. I found myself surrounded by people engaged in conversation filled with laughter and smiles.”
“In-person community and relationships play a huge part in keeping all of us mentally engaged and healthy—something we all need more of,” she added.
For Barry Segal and others, raising money for mental health is a walk in the park
That view was seconded by Barry Segal of Segal & Sorensen Construction, the event’s Gold sponsor, who ran into a new friend and neighbor while trekking along the path beside Cayuga Lake. “I gained a new perspective of the services that NAMI provides,” he said.
Participants, including members of 23 fundraising teams, had the option of walking a mile around the park or doing a 5K run. The event included face painting, free food, live music, yoga on the lawn, various giveaways, a scavenger hunt, and a memory wall. Local mental health nonprofits provided information tables. Be Kind Ithaca and Free Hugs Ithaca were on hand, well, to spread kindness and do a lot of hugging.
NAMI-FL recognized David Archer as the No. 1 fundraiser, with a $6,600 haul, and Buoyant Punk made its mark as the top fundraising team with $7,516.00.
Dave Archer and Sandra Sorensen
Scavenger Hunters
NAMI fundraiser Steve Gordon and NAMI volunteer Dale Taylor
NAMI Helps
Photo credits: Tyler Hanna
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