FHR Fall River Walks for Mental Health

FHR FRN Staff and Person's Served Walking for Mental Health Awareness

On a beautiful Saturday in May, three persons served, along with two staff from Fellowship Health Resources Fall River Network (FHR FRN), attended the NAMI Walk at Artesani Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

The three-mile walk was completed by staff member Jennifer Andrade and person served Primitivo R. Staff member Stephanie Andrade and persons served Gabriel M. and Michael F. cheered them on. While completing the walk, discussions had already begun about improvements for next year’s walk, including more participants and creating FHR FRN t-shirts. Primitivo even suggested possible monthly walks to assist those enrolled in our current program that may struggle or fear the three-mile NAMI walk stating, “It feels good to do something for my mental illness.”

Approximately 137 teams consisting of 1,933 walkers were registered for the NAMI walk. The $357,438 raised by the Massachusetts NAMI walk exceeded not only the 2010 monetary goal of $350,000, but it also put the walk as the highest-grossing NAMI walk in the country.

Since 1979, the goal of NAMI has been to improve the lives of those individuals, and their families, that are affected by a mental illness. NAMI strives on the principles of awareness, education and advocacy along with hope, reform and health to our communities. Additional information about NAMI can be located on their website.



A special thanks to Jamie Soares, Alicia Geary, Shannon Smith and Denise Medeiros for their generous contributions to the NAMI walk.

Written by: Jennifer Andrade, Recovery Advocate