NAMI Mercer Walk 2012 Draws 800 Participants

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the Mercer County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“Changing minds, one step at a time” was the rallying call of the 800 supporters who participated in the Fifth Annual NAMI Mercer Walk on May 5 on the campus of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Lawrence Township.

NAMI Mercer, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, sponsored the event with the dual goals of fighting stigma and raising money to support its free programs for individuals and families affected by mental illness.

The 56-member Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) team was the largest of the 65 registered teams. Team Janssen CNS raised the most money, followed by Team Maxam. Suzanne Gross of Cranbury, a member of Team Maxam, was the Walk’s highest individual fundraiser. Donations to-date for the NAMI Mercer Walk 2012 exceed $122,000.

Mercer County Executive and Honorary Chair Brian Hughes and U.S. Rep.  Rush Holt participated in the opening ceremony. Honorary Chair Mark Neumann of BMS also attended. Following the Walk, there was a complimentary picnic and live concert by Xenia Sky, Mike Glazier, and the Riverside Bluegrass Band.

NAMI Mercer extends a sincere thank-you to all of the generous walkers, donors, volunteers, vendors and sponsors: ETS, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Shire, Otsuka, Aramark, Mercer County Woman, Roma Bank, the Honorable and Mrs. Joseph Irenas, Princeton House Behavioral Health, Walmart, Alexander Road Associates, Carrier Clinic, Comcast, Sandoz, Bagel Junction, Capital Health, Catholic Charities, Courageous Recovery, Stark & Stark, UBS, Borden Perlman, Gold’s Gym, Heart to Hearts, Hopewell Valley Community Bank, Joe’s Hamilton Transmission, and John G. Molinelli, CSNA.

NAMI Mercer, based in Lawrence Township, is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through education, mutual support, and advocacy.

For more information, go to www.namimercer.org or call (609) 799-8994.