This fall, Taylor Lin participated in the first virtual National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk. Thanks to her efforts as a team leader, EDRC made a sizable donation to NAMI and promoted mental health awareness in the Silicon Valley. Keep reading to learn about this exciting annual volunteer opportunity with EDRC.
Despite it being virtual, Eating Disorders Resource Center (EDRC) still successfully made an appearance at this year’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk. Each year, the NAMI Walk increases public awareness of mental illness. This year, I am grateful that I had the chance to support NAMI’s cause by leading EDRC Elites. On Walk Day (October 10th) we put on our masks and took socially distanced walks around the city. Thanks to the efforts of our team, I am happy to announce that we met our fundraising goals for NAMI!
Why NAMI? Simple: EDRC’s mission is “to create awareness, promote recovery and advocate for treatment of eating disorders.” NAMI’s purpose-to end misconceptions about mental illness-aligns with our core values.
Many people do not realize that eating disorders are a mental illness that often result in early death. Partnering with NAMI helps us fight the stigma surrounding mental illness and raise awareness that eating disorders are psychiatric disorders. In times of isolation and uncertainty, it’s more important than ever for people with eating disorders to take extra care of their mental health. I am proud of the EDRC Elites team for fostering a supportive environment for everyone touched by mental illness in our community and promoting NAMI.
I extend my gratitude to all team members who donated to NAMI’s cause. I also thank Regina and Jeremy for supplying photos and graphics of their participation on Walk Day. Jeremy went above and beyond by creating a personal comic about how eating disorders have affected his life. You can read the comic here.
EDRC has inspired my passion for mental health advocacy. As a a new volunteer, this year’s NAMI Walk is only the beginning of the positive impact I will make on my community. Mental health for all!
