#MentalHealthMay is also the season for NAMIWalks Northwest! Many thanks to the 20+ LifeWorks NW staff and family who signed up to be part of this year’s event, which took place on May 17 in Peninsula Park in Portland.
What is NAMIWalks? From their official website:
NAMIWalks is the mental health world's beacon of hope for good reason: the energy and impact of individuals who have heartfelt stories to tell, not to mention bold new ones to write. They band together every year for a cause that's near and dear, without fear of stigma, and with the guarantee of encouragement.
With the foundational message of "Mental Health for All," we were thrilled to see so many show up in support of raising mental health awareness in our community. Not only were there many local behavioral health organizations represented, but there was also a petting zoo, a tarot card reader, and a learn-to-crochet station. Food carts and live music kept the event festive. Bonus: lots of people brought their adorable dogs. And although it threatened to rain all morning, there was only a slight window of drizzle at the very end. Hooray!
NAMIWalks Northwest is open to anybody interested in supporting mental health. The walking portion of the event is optional, with a simple 0.5 mile loop on pavement. A few members of the LifeWorks NW team opted sit out the walk to be sure we had staff available at the LifeWorks NW booth, while others chose to do the loop twice. It's a choose-your-own-adventure experience.
Our team raised over $600 in support of NAMI Oregon and showed up to celebrate community, raise awareness, and plant seeds of hope. 'Til next year!
