NAMIWalks Keystone PA Celebrates 15th Year With Hybrid Event
Annual Walk Raises Awareness for Mental Health, Aims to Reduce Stigma
Pittsburgh – On Saturday, Oct. 9, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania, the state organization for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will bring together hundreds of people to raise mental health awareness during the 15th annual NAMIWalks Keystone PA, a hybrid event taking place at Monroeville Community Park.
Some participants will walk a 5K together at the park in Monroeville during the open house event between 12- 4 p.m. Walkers will also be able to take team photos and make mental health awareness bracelets. Light refreshments will be served. For teams that don't feel comfortable gathering at the park, they can still participate virtually by choosing their own activity and posting pictures and videos to social media using the hashtag #NAMIWalksKeystonePA.
"We hope giving people the option of participating in person or virtually will make everyone feel as comfortable as possible," said Christine Michaels, CEO of NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania. "We have a lot of dedicated team captains and walkers who would not miss a NAMIWalks no matter what."
The goal of NAMIWalks is to raise awareness and funds for mental health. Captains create a team and recruit people to walk with them, raising money along the way. All proceeds fund the support groups and education programs that NAMI Keystone PA offers throughout the year at no cost to those who participate.
"People are in need of mental health support now more than ever," said Michaels. "Our supporters know how important our services are to individuals and families in need."
NAMIWalks is being held on this particular Saturday because it coincides with the national organization's United Day Hope, which means dozens of NAMIWalks across the country will be taking place on the same day, bringing hundreds of thousands of advocates together. October 9 also marks the end of Mental Illness Awareness Week.
To join NAMIWalks Keystone PA, visit namiwalks.org/keystonepa. NAMIWalks is supported across the country by National Sponsors: Alkermes, Humana Healthy Horizons, Takeda, and Lundbeck. NAMIWalks Keystone PA’s premier sponsors are UPMC Health Plan and Community Care Behavioral Health. The major sponsor is Cigna.
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