Chelsea Rotary Club member Anne Nauts has spent the last few years working on a mental health initiative with Collyer Smith of the Ann Arbor Rotary Club.
“My Rotary friend, Collyer Smith (past president of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor and Past Assistant Governor for The Rotary Club of Chelsea), sent this information for the mental health initiative we have worked on for the past year and is now happening,” Nauts said.
It’s an effort to support mental health organizations through a fun virtual “race” (spread out in 1 mile per day walk or run), and then next March — a true run/race at the Ann Arbor Marathon.
Called E-RACE THE STIGMA, it’s a challenge to complete 1 mile a day, and the event begins Sept. 14 and continues until World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.
Lots of dog owners already do 1-mile a day, so no extra effort except a family bonding experience.
Collyer and his wife lost their only child to a mental health related drug overdose two years ago. He has dedicated the rest of his life to getting the word out and helping to develop public awareness, hoping to help other families recognize what’s going on with their children and finding help before it’s too late.
As many of you know, there is an ongoing effort in Chelsea (as well as all of Washtenaw County) to increase public awareness of the severity of what a mental health crisis can do to an individual and their family as they try to find help to get to a better, more stable life.
