On Saturday, October 5, take a walk to support NAMI’s mission to improve the lives of individuals, families and caregivers on their journey to mental wellness.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. The Sarasota and Manatee County affiliate is one of 24 Florida affiliates and more than 600 across the country and Colleen Thayer serves as the Executive Director. When she first started working with the organization over six years ago, she was the first employee and she was part time. There are now 25 local team members offering support and education as their core function. “We are not clinical or treatment providers at all,” Thayer explains. “We offer individuals living with any kind of mental health condition support programs and we do the same thing for families and caregivers.”

There are NAMIWalks all over the country supporting mental health for all. The October 5th NAMIWalk is NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties’ main and only external fundraiser and awareness event for the year. “It's a fun walk, so it's not a 5K or 10K. It's really just come out, have a good time, create teams and raise money to support our mission,” says Thayer. “People can also make individual donations and they can sponsor us. It’s great because whatever we raise there is unrestricted so we can put it where we really need it.”  For a great warm-up before the walk, check out Jazzercise Lakewood Ranch who will also be at the Payne Park event.

To fuel mental health awareness, raise funds for NAMI's mission and let people know they are not alone, sign up for the NAMIWalk and join a caring community giving their time, their stories and their heartfelt dedication to the cause: Mental Health for All.

Saturday October 5, 2024, Payne Park, 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota, 8 am- 12 pm, 4 Loops, NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties. To learn more, contact Jessica Polk, jessica@namisarasotamanatee.org.

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