May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to celebrate and support the providers, caregivers, educators, advocates, and other dedicated souls who aid mental health and wellness in our community.
Ithaca Walking for NAMI in 2024
That’s why 200 or so mental health champions will participate in a fundraising walk for the Finger Lakes chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at Ithaca’s Stewart Park on May 3 from 3-6 p.m.
Click here to be a sponsor, become a fundraiser, donate to a team, or sign up to join the NAMI Walk. This year’s goal is to raise $50,000.
The NAMI Walk funds programs such as peer-led support groups for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness.
NAMI Finger Lakes also offers an array of peer-led programs that provide free education, skills training, and support. It operates a HelpLine where experienced volunteers answer calls for support and mental health resources. The number is (607) 273-2462.
Just as important, the event is an occasion for those affected by mental illness to share community and draw strength from solidarity.
“Engaging with NAMI, talking to my friends about mental health, and being part of a greater community of trusting, stigma-breaking people has made me feel ‘not alone,’” said Sandra Sorensen, the chapter’s executive director.
“My team walks in memory of my late husband Michael, who died by suicide in May of 2021. Michael was afraid of stigma and lived a life hiding from his mental health issues,” she said.
In-person Walk registration begins at 3 p.m., and the event provides a 1-mile walking route and a fun 5K route for runners.
Despite the serious subject matter, the annual NAMI Walk is a joyful event that includes lawn games and face painting for kids of all ages. NAMI Finger Lakes is joined by local mental health partners who set up information tables about mental health resources available in the community.
“I have been profoundly moved by the support NAMI Finger Lakes has been able to give to so many people,” said Meggin Rose, a chapter board member.
“I have talked with many, many people who have told me that they no longer feel alone, that they now have hope and are acquiring the tools they need to navigate their own, or their loved one’s mental health challenges.”
One of this year’s walkers is Hayden Plattus, a NAMI volunteer through a course at Cornell University. “Having seen first-hand the challenges of providing mental health support, I became determined to raise funds for NAMI and spread its resources to more families,” she said.
Sponsors of the 2025 NAMI walk include Segal & Sorensen, Cayuga Health, Tompkins Community Bank, Wegmans, Cornell University, CFCU Community Credit Union, Guthrie, and Cayuga Landscape.
NAMI Finger Lakes is one of some 600 local affiliates of NAMI, a national mental health organization founded in 1979 dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI says its mission is to educate, support, advocate, listen and lead to improve the lives of people with mental illness and their loved ones.
You must be logged in to post a comment.