 Alyssa Hotchkiss Staff Writer This October, there were many 5k runs, but the one that stood out the most was a run founded by a student at Apex High. Junior Anna Parrish founded a 5k run raising awareness towards mental illness. Six months ago Parrish had opened an online funding account to collect donations. There were sixty-five volunteers, and one hundred seventy-two runners and walkers that participated in the event. The two organizations that will receive the estimated $4,000 each in proceeds are: NAMI of Wake County, the Triangle advocacy and support branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention program for lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and questioning people. Parrish said she started the race because “I don’t want anyone else to feel like [that].” Being diagnosed with depression and anxiety Parrish knows what it feels like to not want to tell anyone. She explained how in this situation people feel like telling others would be a burden and that she should just put on a happy face and pretend everything is alright. It is important to remember people are there to help one another. Parrish is proud of what she has done in raising money for this cause; that is not the only thing she should be proud about though. Being able to admit what is going on in her life and stand proud while her experience helps her help others is an amazing achievement.
If you have any questions about mental illness or how to contact help you can contact the following; 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or [email protected] Also click here for information about finding support; https://www.nami.org/Find-Support Comments are closed.
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