People walk for mental illness awareness

From the Sunday, Oct. 6, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

People walk for mental illness awareness
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

CRYSTAL LAKE – Roller coaster.

That's how Chris Gohl describes what life has been like since his wife, Kendra, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago.

"It's a struggle when you see someone doing everything they can, and it doesn't work," said Gohl. "But it's brought us closer as a family."

Gohl and his family traveled from their home in Lake Geneva, Wis., to join about 100 others for the seventh annual Walk for Mental Illness Awareness Saturday at Veteran Acres Park, in Crystal Lake.

The fundraiser walk was sponsored by the McHenry County Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, and aimed to raise awareness and provide fellowship for people who have mental illnesses.

"I think we really got our message across," said Merna Drewno, president of the chapter. "Even though there are times of difficulty and struggles, there's always hope."

It's estimated that mental illness affects about one in five American families, according to the national NAMI Web site, www.nami.org.

The walk gave people a chance to meet, share their stories and become motivated to conquer mental illness. One of the posters at the park included photographs of famous people who suffered from mental illnesses "so people could see those and be inspired,' Drewno said.

Money raised from the walk goes toward educational programs, peer support groups, an emergency medication fund and a scholarship for people living with mental illness who attend McHenry County College.

Drewno said she expected more than $15,000 to be raised.