DAVENPORT, IOWA (August 12, 2022) — It’s a new day for mental health in America. More people are speaking openly about their mental health conditions than ever before, and the need for mental health services is on the rise.
It’s also a new day for NAMIWalks Your Way Greater Mississippi Valley, the annual fundraising and awareness event presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), known locally as NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley.
Every year, NAMIWalks Your Way raises funds for NAMI’s free, top-rated programs, amplifies awareness to eliminate stigma and strengthens the ever-growing mental-health community. With an average of 1,000 participants, NAMIWalks Your Way Greater Mississippi Valley is the Quad Cities’ largest annual mental health awareness and advocacy event. This year’s walk is Saturday, September 17, at Veterans Memorial Park, 1645 23rd St., Bettendorf. Pre-walk activities start at 8AM, with walk step-off at 9:30AM.
“This year promises to be a banner year for the hundreds who turn out to help us move closer to our goal of Mental Health for All,” according to NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley Executive Director Angela Gallagher.
To join NAMIWalks Your Way, visit www.namiwalks.org/greatermississippivalley. There is no registration fee, but fundraising is encouraged. Participants raising at least $100 receive an event T-shirt. One-hundred percent of funds raised support NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley’s free local mental-health programs, resources, and services. This is a family-friendly event with kids, music, clowns, and dogs.
Major sponsors for this year’s walk include: KWQC-TV (Presenting); Double Good Virtual Fundraising (Premier); iHeartMedia (Platinum); Eagle View Behavioral Health (Gold); Genesis Health System (Gold); GreenState Credit Union (Gold); Necker’s Jewelers (Gold); Sears Seating (Gold); UnitedHealthcare (Gold); UnityPoint Health–Trinity (Gold); and UnityPoint Health–Robert Young Center (Gold).
NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley is part of the nation’s largest grassroots mental-health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMIWalks Your Way, a Top 30 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Event, is a national mental-health event series with walks taking place in more than 120 locations. The Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum awarded NAMI the Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Organization of the Year award in 2022. For local information, visit www.namigmv.org.
