Walking for a Good Cause
NAMI New Orleans, a local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will be hosting their 14th Annual NAMIWalks New Orleans this year on Saturday, October 28 at Lafreniere Park in Metairie. NAMIWalks promotes mental health awareness, social engagement, and support for those who are living with mental illness. Their work helps provide family support, education, and advocacy, as well as quality psychological services to those in need.
NAMIWalks is a great way to come together as a community in order to support the "Mental Health for All" movement. Join Team Funky Butts this year to complete the walk or just make a donation if you cannot make it. Walking in NAMIWalks allows local people to join the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization and make change for the better.
The route will be just under a mile long, which makes it perfect for all members of the family to join in. Participants should expect to arrive at Lafreniere Park at 9 a.m. for check in, followed by the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Young Fellaz Jazz Band will second line with participating walkers, and there will be a special belly dancing performance by Shimmy Shakti Troupe after the walk is complete.
The belly dancing will be followed by a raffle drawing and then the festivities will end at noon. Whether you have participated in NAMIWalks before or if this is your first time—you will be inspired by all of the events of the day. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash, and don't forget to wear your favorite NAMIWalks gear or Team T-shirts. NAMI National will be in attendance this year to film for their nationwide video, so you will want to dress up to show your support!
