This year's "Walk the Walk" for mental health awareness - co-sponsored by NAMI Athens and the Gathering Place - was bigger and better than ever. The day was beautiful. Judging from the number of t-shirts given out to those who marched, well over three hundred people showed up at the Court House at 10:00 on the Morning of Saturday, November 7th.

A banner proclaiming the walk hung over Court Street. State Representative Debby Phillips, State Senator Jimmy Stewart and Mayor Paul Wiehl all attended and gave words of support.
 

Then the group started the march which took many of them to the Gathering Place, down Richland Avenue, to the Ridges, over the Ridges Cemeteries Nature Walk and finally to Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare where many partook in a big potluck lunch.

The event was the 10th annual Walk, and once again successfully raised funds for, and awareness of, mental health issues and needs.

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