Thank you to all of our members and friends who participated in our 2nd annual NAMIWalks in ASHEVILLE: Western Regional Walk! More than 140 walkers from around Western North Carolina enjoyed a beautiful day at Carrier Park! In addition to the Asheville Stargazers of the NAMI Western Carolina affiliate, we had walkers from NAMI Hendersonville/6th Avenue Clubhouse, NAMI Appalachian South in Franklin, NAMI High Country in Boone, and NAMI Rutherford-Cleveland. Other teams included the Family Preservations Services CREW, the Asheville Kickers, CooperRiis, Strategic Innovations Grateful Gang, and Western Highlands Network.
Special guests were David Bullins, president of NAMI North Carolina visiting from Cabarrus County, and Ted Thomas, NAMI NC board member from NAMI Forsyth. Both were pleased to see the enthusiastic turnout here in Western Carolina! Also present were Bill Kinschner, president of the NAMI WC board of directors, and Jim Pitts, past president of NAMI North Carolina and NAMI Western Carolina. Susan Reinhardt, writer and columnist for the Asheville Citizen-Times and Verve Magazine, gave an inspirational (and funny!) kickoff talk to our walkers!
Thank you to our 2011 Sponsors: Mission Hospital, CooperRiis, One Mind Mental Illness Ministry, Ingles, Charlotte Street Computers, Best Friends Pet Cemetary and Crematory, Tender Loving Care and Arboc Mobility.
And a big THANK YOU to our Asheville community! To our local contributors and in-kind donors: Amazing Savings, Asheville Tourists, Corn Husk Shoppe, cijp, Pomodoro’s, Molly Black, Frankie Bones, Laurey’s Catering, Mercury Creative Group, RiverLink, Studio Chavarria, Hickory Tavern, Moondoggie’s Natural Pet Foods, Mosaic Cafe, Home Free Bagels, Asheville Tea & Spice Exchange, Judy De Havilland, Sparkling Clean, Staples, P.F. Chang’s, Susan Reinhardt, and One Mind Mental Illness Ministry. These contributors made our silent auction and raffle a big hit!
Next year’s Walk will be even bigger and better! Plan to join us in speaking out (and showing up!) to educate the community about mental illness and to BEAT THE STIGMA!
