To the Journal editor:

The second annual Pathways Community Mental Health Walk-a-Mile-in-My-Shoes rally was held at the Marquette Commons on May 24. In spite of the intense rain that fell just as the rally was beginning, this anti-stigma rally was attended by approximately 300 people, with even more walk participants registered than the previous year.

The Pathways WAM Planning Team is grateful for all of the community support for this event and would like to thank the following sponsors: Adult Learning Systems; Bay Human Services; Peninsula Pharmacy; Western Marquette County Health Foundation; 44North; Anderson Tackman & Co.; PrintUP; Nifty Thrifty; Double Trouble Entertainment; We Energies; Norway Springs; Tadych’s Econo Foods; Yooper Shirts and Border Grill.

Entertainment was provided by singer Shawn Kangas performing as Len Kaganime and Native American drummer Cory Petrey. The speakers were Bob Sheehan, CEO of the Community Mental Health Association of MI; Sandy Chapman, treatment coordinator, SUD Recovery at Northcare Network; Alazar Chroman, peer recovery support Mmentor at Great Lakes Recovery Center; Deb Pascoe, peer support services at Child and Family Services; Lynn Johnson, Emergency Services coordinator of Pathways; and keynote speaker Jyotish Wiertela – Pathways clinical social worker.

Information booths were provided by Community Action – Alger/Marquette; Marquette Women’s Center/Harbor House; Lakestate Industries; Superior Alliance for Independent Living; Marquette County Cares; Pathways Clubhouse; Great Lakes Recovery Centers; Autism Alliance; Pathways inSHAPE; Brantley Drop-In Center; Teaching Family Homes; Pathways Eliminating Stigma Team (PEST); and the National Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI.)

A free community event like this takes many hours of planning and contributions of effort by a large circle of volunteers. We thank each and every person who helped to make this year’s rally a success.