Dozens of residents dodged raindrops and puddles Saturday for a marathon walking event aimed at shattering myths about mental illness. Walk Like Crazy, sponsored by Reliance House Inc., attracted several soggy but motivated walkers to the Norwich Free Academy track Saturday afternoon. Walkers sported galoshes, slickers and umbrellas for the four-hour fundraiser. Proceeds will go toward mental illness education. “I don’t think people are aware of how many services there are for people who need them in the area,” said Kia Baird, Reliance House community education director. “People who need help don’t always know who to call.” Last year, she said her organization served 600 adults with varying degrees of mental illness through case management, career services, art therapy and transitive housing programs. Reliance House, which serves portions of New London County, receives 80 percent of its funding from the state, and relies on fundraisers for the remainder, Baird said. Inside, outside event Saturday’s event was split into an inside and an outside portion. Inside the Slater Memorial Museum, health care providers set up educational display tables, while music and balloons floated in the background. Lea Ferri of Griswold said she came out in order to dispel prevalent and incorrect myths associated with mental illness. “There’s so much stigma out there,” she said. “And that leads to misinformation.” Outside on the slick quarter-mile tac ...
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Dozens of residents dodged raindrops and puddles Saturday for a marathon walking event aimed at shattering myths about mental illness. Walk Like Crazy, sponsored by Reliance House Inc., attracted several soggy but motivated walkers to the Norwich Free Academy track Saturday afternoon. Walkers sported galoshes, slickers and umbrellas for the four-hour fundraiser. Proceeds will go toward mental illness education. “I don’t think people are aware of how many services there are for people who need them in the area,” said Kia Baird, Reliance House community education director. “People who need help don’t always know who to call.” Last year, she said her organization served 600 adults with varying degrees of mental illness through case management, career services, art therapy and transitive housing programs. Reliance House, which serves portions of New London County, receives 80 percent of its funding from the state, and relies on fundraisers for the remainder, Baird said. Inside, outside event Saturday’s event was split into an inside and an outside portion. Inside the Slater Memorial Museum, health care providers set up educational display tables, while music and balloons floated in the background. Lea Ferri of Griswold said she came out in order to dispel prevalent and incorrect myths associated with mental illness. “There’s so much stigma out there,” she said. “And that leads to misinformation.” Outside on the slick quarter-mile tac ...