{"id":32415,"date":"2017-03-16T09:15:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-16T13:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=32415"},"modified":"2017-03-29T08:46:53","modified_gmt":"2017-03-29T12:46:53","slug":"sixth-annual-walk-hope-raises-awareness-mental-health-among-college-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2017\/sixth-annual-walk-hope-raises-awareness-mental-health-among-college-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Sixth annual Walk for Hope raises awareness for mental health among college students"},"content":{"rendered":"

A quilt hangs inside the counseling center at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), sharing the message: \u201cLet hope light a fire that no one can put out; I am here to help; stay strong.\u201d The quilt is a collaborative effort created over the first years by participants of Walk for Hope<\/a>, an annual event of solidarity in the face of depression and suicide on college campuses.<\/p>\n

That solidarity is shown by the joining, and joint hosting, of four higher education communities in the region: EMU, James Madison University, Blue Ridge Community College and Bridgewater College. The event averages between 700 and 800 attendees each year.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sunflowers glow in a field owned by Bibb and Dolly Frazier and Frazier Quarry. The fall flower-picking event was a fundraiser for Walk for Hope, an annual spring event to raiseawareness about mental health, depression and suicide among college-age youth. (Courtesy photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sixth annual Walk for Hope will be Saturday, March 25. Walkers will meet at Yoder Arena in the University Commons. The walk begins at noon with a loop around the Park View neighborhood. Post-walk festivities include snacks, food trucks, collaborative art projects, games for kids, and keynote speaker Dave Romano, a mental health advocate from Minnesota who works for the nonprofit Active Minds. Two years ago, Romano biked across the United States to raise awareness for mental health.<\/p>\n

The message of the walk is that mental illness \u201cis real, you\u2019re not alone, there is hope, and it\u2019s okay to ask for help,\u201d said Pam Comer<\/a>, EMU\u2019s director of counseling services<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The theme this year is \u201csunflowers,\u201d thanks to the event\u2019s primary sponsor, the Austin Frazier Memorial Fund<\/a>. The Frazier family opened their sunflower field\u00a0 to the community last fall as a fundraiser for the walk. The field of flowers is memorialized in the t-shirts that all participants will receive.<\/p>\n

Comer especially loves the art-making part of the event, such as the quilt squares. A second quilt, which is about halfway complete, will be finished at the end of this event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a sense of expression without words, as they\u2019re all sitting together, working together,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re all in this together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comer has been on the planning committee since the walk\u2019s inception through the CoachLink<\/a> program. CoachLink, which connects EMU students with mentors, was initiated by the Frazier family after their son, Austin, passed away in 2009.<\/p>\n

A group from all four schools got together to brainstorm \u2013 \u201chow do we gather more schools together and make a statement in the community?\u201d The Walk for Hope was born, and has been sponsored by the Austin Frazier Memorial Fund since the first walk in 2012.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout that family\u2019s commitment, we wouldn\u2019t have a Walk for Hope,\u201d says Comer. The original planners were intentional about not asking participants to raise funds for the event, which might distract from their purpose. \u201cIt\u2019s for students gathering and getting some inspiration and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunflower field east of Harrisonburg opens for Walk for Hope fundraiser<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n