'To save a life is to save the world': Support mental health advocacy at Greeley's first NAMI Walks event

May 5—The National Alliance on Mental Illness Union Colony-Greeley will host its first walking fundraiser to benefit local mental health efforts in the community later this month.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, is a grassroots organization for mental health support and advocacy. NAMI Union Colony-Greeley is one of 14 Colorado affiliates that offer advocacy, education support groups and special events throughout the year.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, May 13, the Greeley chapter will host NAMI Walks at Bittersweet Park, northwest of 35th Avenue and 16th Street in Greeley. The event, a nationwide NAMI event, allows people to participate by volunteering, donating, sponsoring or signing up to walk for a team, according to Ray Merenstein, the executive director of NAMI Colorado.

"What a powerful statement ... those living with mental illness and their family members feeling the support in the communities where they live and work and play," Merenstein said. "We know that mental illness doesn't discriminate geographically, so we want every geographic region to feel like they're a part of this community effort."

The Greeley chapter, which has previously participated in walks, decided to host its own event for the first time this year. The Northern Colorado Veterans Affairs Clinic, a NAMI community partner, expressed an interest in having the event in the Greeley area, according to Clark Bacco, an affiliate for NAMI Union Colony-Greeley, setting the stage for the Greeley walk.

"To have the VA support us ... it's just too much of a perfect fit," Bacco said.

The Greeley chapter is working with the VA clinic to bring in a home-front support group that is VA-centric. The VA plans to have multiple teams walk the 1.2-mile lake at Bittersweet Park.

Frontier House, another NAMI community partner, is also taking steps for mental health by walking as a team. North Range Behavioral Health coordinates Frontier House as a clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation. The model creates an informal meeting of members as a "club," as they participate in their own recovery processes.

Bacco said the walking fundraiser being at Bittersweet Park, home to the Weld County Veterans Memorial, makes the event even more special.

Where does the money go?

All funds raised at the event will go toward free services and programs NAMI offers to community members, Merenstein said. This includes peer support, family support groups, educational programs in schools and frontline wellness programs.

The event is the single largest fundraiser for NAMI as well as an opportunity for community building, Merenstein said.

"It gives the business community, those struggling with mental illness, their families and friends, the providers ... the opportunity to come together in a non-clinical setting to provide support to one another," he said.

The walking fundraiser is open to all, from babies in strollers to people using wheelchairs. Participants can bring their dogs to join them, or people are welcome to cheer on participants from the sidelines.

The walk aims to raise awareness, support and funds for people with severe mental illness, Bacco said. Events like NAMI Walks are also to help save lives, Merenstein added.

"To save a life is to save the world," Merenstein said. "If we can get one more person to the walk that learns what free resources we have available to them or their family member and we can help save that life, that will compensate the world."

To donate or sign up, go to namiwalks.org/colorado. When registering for a team or donating, select "Team Greeley." Team Greeley is associated with NAMI Union Colony-Greeley and will ensure all money will go directly to local recipients.

To learn more, email NAMI.Greeley@yahoo.com.

___

(c)2023 the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.)

Visit the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.) at www.greeleytribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.