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TEAM WINNERS!
1 – Business Teams with
most Walkers
Team Ambrose
(Trophy Winners)
Trinity – Robert Young
Center
Genesis – Vera French
Community Care
New Choices
2 – Business Teams with
most funds raised
Trinity - Robert Young
Center
Team Ambrose
Genesis - Vera French
Circle K Kiwanis
Davenport Community
Schools
3 – Family Teams with
most Walkers
Quad City Adults
Diaz Team
River Walkers
Chalice Lighters
Heads Up
4 – Family Teams with
most funds raised
Gunnares Canaries
Lewis Lightning
Diaz Team
River Walkers
Scott County Adults
As we always end our
emails, thank
you for all your hard
work and we’ll see you at next years walk!!
Kathy and Jay Bowman
NAMIWalks Managers |
The weather was much more cooperative for this
years National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
(NAMI) Walk than it was last year. Last years
event held at Fejevary park was cold and rainy.
Today's event May 2 was sunny and 65 degrees.
The expected turn out was 1,500. The number of
participants crossing the finish line was 852.
There were also a good number of volunteers who
didn't walk.
The purpose of the NAMI walk is to raise
awareness and money to support services for the
mentally ill. For many participants it is a
change to proudly take a step towards not
feeling alone with their illness. It is also a
chance to meet and greet service providers in a
more social setting.
Individuals and teams showed up for this 5K walk
around Credit Island in Davenport. Vera French
the major supporter of the event showed up in
force with matching T-shirts.
Other teams had matching shirts and there was
even a T- shirt contest, which was all in fun.
Individuals and teams could be supported through
donations. the fundraising goal was $95,000. At
press time 61% of that had been achieved or
$57,837.50 but, the donations from today have
not been tallied.
Individuals who did not have any money were
still admitted and could still receive a free
T-shirt. The T-shirt boldly advertises that the
wearer is part of the community that cares about
the mentally ill.
It was
quite a crowd a the starting line. A Christian
rock band played in the background. One woman
walking a dog fell several times but the crowd
looked after her. Some people jogged. Two people
on bicycles and a woman walking were going the
wrong way evidently surprised that the event was
taking place.
It seemed like just a walk in the park, but it
was more than that. As NAMI of Scott County
nears the celebration of it's 30th anniversary
on June 7 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Davenport, it marks a huge step forward in
breaking down stigmas. The walk marks continuing
progress from days when the mentally ill were
ostracized and locked up.
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