Raleigh, North Carolina — Thousands of people tied their laces to attend the 35th annual Hope for Hope event at Angus Barn on Sunday morning.
Ms Van Wool, organizer of the Walk for Hope and owner of Angus Barn, said her family started the tradition 35 years ago.
Since then, the walk has raised millions of dollars for the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, postpartum depression, and schizophrenia.
100% of the funds raised by participants will directly fund local mental illness research in the UNC Department of Psychiatry.
“There are a lot of people walking in the place of people who have died by suicide, and a lot of people have family members who have struggled with mental illness,” Uhl said.
Since the pandemic, one in three adults has been affected by mental illness. For Thomas Goodwin, participating for the 28th time, it was a reminder that people you might not have thought were suffering could be suffering too.
“That’s what makes our family special,” Goodwin said. “I don’t think there’s a person in the world who hasn’t been affected by mental illness in some way.”
Wool said it takes more than donations to destigmatize mental illness.
“What we need to overcome the stigma is to be willing to talk about it,” Uhl said. “It’s about being able to say, ‘I suffer from depression,’ without being embarrassed.”
The walk continues to inspire future generations, including Katie Wright-Creech, who came on the walk in high school.
“At a time when more and more people are becoming aware of their mental health, it is really important that we are aware of our own mental health,” she says.
Once all participants crossed the finish line, they celebrated with a family-friendly afternoon meal, games, music, and prizes. We unite for the same cause, the same purpose.
“This is a very fun day, but such an important purpose has come to an end,” Uhl said. “It’s such a camaraderie, because [for] This means something to every single person here. ”
If you are having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Veterans can connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 and then pressing 1. For text messages, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.
