Fundraiser Supports Family Mental Health Education in Six Counties
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 3, 2017) – The Greater Mississippi Valley affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will hold its 14th annual advocacy walk on Saturday, September 23 at Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport. Some 1,300 people are expected to attend the event for families supporting a loved one living with a mental health condition. Registration and family activities open at 8 a.m., with a 5K walk starting at 9:30 a.m.
The walk is a fundraiser to provide year-long, free education programs for individuals living with a serious mental health condition and their families in six Quad-City-area counties. It’s hosted locally by presenting sponsor UnityPoint Health – Trinity and the Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health. National sponsor Alkermes has also underwritten any national costs for NAMIWalks Greater Mississippi Valley, so all monies raised here will go to local programs.
The featured speaker is honorary walk chair Colleen Rafferty of Moline, Ill. She’s working with NAMI to bring awareness to a fun, family event that supports a serious cause. “As past Board Chairperson of the Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health, it’s been my privilege to stand with NAMI and others in our great community to fight the stigma associated with mental illness,” Rafferty said.
“Virtually every family is touched by mental illness in some way. My own family is no exception. Having suffered myself from post-partum depression and anxiety, I know first-hand how devastating – and how treatable – mental illness can be,” she said. Rafferty is a marketing consultant and former executive director of Women’s Connection – a business women’s group. She now serves on the board of directors for the Moline Library, UnityPoint Health – Trinity Medical Center and Trinity Regional Health System.
Register to walk or donate at www.namiwalks.org/greatermississippivalley or email namiwalks@namigmv.org.
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About NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley and NAMIWalks
One in five people experience a mental health disorder in any given year. This grassroots organization is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, providing free education and support programs to individuals and families living with a serious mental health condition. NAMI GMV fills an otherwise unmet information gap in our community, serving residents in Muscatine, Clinton, Scott Counties in Iowa and Mercer, Henry, Rock Island Counties in Illinois. www.namigmv.org.
In its 14th year locally, NAMIWalks will be held Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport. Some 1,300 people are expected to attend. UnityPoint Health – Trinity and Robert Young Center are the local presenting sponsors. KWQC TV-6 is a major sponsor and Sears Manufacturing is a gold sponsor. Additional information is available at www.namiwalks.org/greatermississippivalley.
