Hey everyone! The post below is written by the amazing folks at Families for Depression Awareness! Please read below and join me this coming Saturday if you local reader or consider being a “out-of-area strider” if you are out of State. For local readers, Diane Patrick (the First Lady of  Massachusetts) will be speaking about her struggles with depression at 2pm. I look forward to seeing some of you at the event! 

Hello, FFF Readers!

Spring is in the air at Food, Fitness, Fashion.  This week, Families for Depression Awareness (FFDA) is honored to pen a guest post for FFF – and the purpose of our post will be to introduce you to a meaningful springtime event called Strides Against Stigma:  Taking Steps to End the Stigma of Depression.

Here at FFDA, we are loyal readers of Ali’s blog because she recognizes that mental health is an important part of healthy living.  We applaud Ali for speaking courageously about her own struggles with depression.  Voices like Ali’s are essential to the mission of Families for Depression Awareness:  helping families recognize and cope with depressive disorders to get people well and prevent suicides.  We fulfill this mission by delivering innovative educational programs in Massachusetts and across the country.  For example, our Teen Depression Program empowers young people to overcome depression and become healthy, productive adults!

We are also fans of Ali’s (and by extension, her readers) because you all love to stay active.  This spring, we hope we can inspire you to lace up your sneakers for an important cause.  Strides Against Stigma will take place on Saturday, April 28th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Boston University’s Nickerson Field – and you’re invited!

So, what is Strides Against Stigma?  Our inaugural event is not a typical fundraising walk.  Instead, we are hosting a “stride-a-thon” featuring walking, running, live entertainment, and inspiring ceremonies.  Each team will set a goal to reach a certain number of strides during the event – be it through walking, jogging, running, or even dancing.  Participants will receive pedometers to help them track their progress.

We are launching Strides Against Stigma to achieve two important goals:  1) building a community dedicated to erasing the stigma or depression; and 2) raising funds for FFDA’s educational programs.  Please consider joining us, because every strider brings us one step closer to our goals!

 

Three Ways You Can Help

1. Gather your friends and family to create your own team of striders
2. Sign up as an individual to find an existing team to join
3. If you’re not in Massachusetts and still want to participate, be an “Out-of-Area Strider”

Click here to register your team, join a team, or become an “Out-of-Area Strider.”  If you’d like to learn more about Strides Against Stigma, you can also contact Katie McLoughlin, Program Coordinator at Families for Depression Awareness, at 781-890-0220 or Katie@familyaware.org.  Many thanks to Ali for allowing us to extend this special invitation to her amazing FFF readers!