If it’s May, that means it’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to celebrate and honor the providers, caregivers, educators, advocates, and other dedicated souls who aid mental health and wellness in our community.
More than 250 mental health champions including 50 teams and countless individuals will participate in the annual NAMIWalk fundraiser for the Finger Lakes chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). It takes place at the Large Pavilion in Ithaca’s Stewart Park on May 3 from 1-4 p.m. This year’s goal is to raise $50,000.
2024 NAMIWalk in Stewart Park
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The event is an occasion for those affected by mental health to share community and draw strength from solidarity. Despite the serious subject matter, the annual NAMIWalk is a joyful event.
The event includes a 1-mile walk, a 5K “fun run,” games in the Kids Zone, massages by Attuned Life, snacks, and music by DJ Anthony. NAMI and other local mental health organizations staff information tables sharing resources available in the local community.
This year’s walk includes a raffle of locally donated items, which include: massages, gift certificates for local restaurants, wine, gift baskets, Science Center tickets, Strong Museum passes, New York Mets tickets, and sporting paraphernalia from local teams.
“The most meaningful part of bringing people together for a common cause is the sharing of stories. Being vulnerable and open connects people who are experiencing similar hardships, making us feel less alone,” said Sandra Sorensen, NAMI Finger Lakes executive director.
Sorensen, who lost her husband Michael to suicide, said that while raising funds is crucial for NAMI programs, NAMIWalk’s real success is making a huge statement about fighting the stigma that prevents many from seeking help.
“The cause is really near and dear to my heart, as I have a lot of lived experience caregiving for people who have mental health issues. My Michael did not feel safe in talking about or receiving the help he needed for his bipolar disorder because he feared stigma, shame, and professional ramifications,” she said.
The NAMIWalk funds programs such as peer-led support groups for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. NAMI operates a HelpLine where experienced volunteers answer calls for support and mental health resources. The number is (607 252-6264).
“NAMIWalks is one of our most important events of the year, helping us raise both awareness and critical funding to keep all of our education and support programs free to the community,” said NAMI Finger Lakes Program Manager Jason Hungerford.
He said that donations have enabled the organization to expand its programming and make a major impact over the past year. For example, he said, NAMI has offered additional Family-to-Family mental health education classes, a Sharing Hope conversation series for people who identify as Black or of African ancestry, and training of 60 additional first responders in NAMI’s Overwatch Peer Support.
Hungerford said that NAMI Finger Lakes aided some 290 individuals through three unique support groups that meet twice a month. The organization has also reached more than 1,300 students and community members through mental health education and awareness presentations like Ending the Silence.
Sponsors of the 2026 NAMIWalk include Segal & Sorensen, Cayuga Health, Tompkins Community Bank, Wegmans, Cornell University, Guthrie, Cayuga Landscape, Excellus, del Lago Resort & Casino, Beginnings Credit Union, Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival, Howard Hanna, and Copper House Coffee.
NAMI Finger Lakes is one of some 600 local affiliates of the national organization, a grassroots 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.
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