SANTA BARBARA — The Mental Wellness Center will kick off Mental Health Month in May with its 6th Annual 5K Walk for Mental Wellness on Friday, May 5th at East Beach Bathhouse. All community members are invited to join the nonprofit’s efforts to change the perception of mental health by stomping out stigma at the annual Sunset Beach Walk.
“Taking care of our mental well-being is important for all of us, no matter what stage we are in our lives, and a long walk along the beach with our wonderful community is a great way to do just that,” said Annmarie Cameron, CEO of the Mental Wellness Center. “For 70 years, the Mental Wellness Center has been invested in building a community of wellness and helping people better understand mental illness. Our 5K Sunset Beach Walk aims to bring people together in an effort to combat the stigma which too often prevents those who are living with mental health conditions from seeking necessary treatment.”
This year, the Mental Wellness Center is teaming up with the San Marcos High School Wellness Connection and the SBCC Wellness Connection to co-host the 5K Walk. In February, the organizations announced a partnership to bolster local support and peer mentoring among students and further promote student health and wellness education on high school campuses.
The Sunset Beach Walk will begin with an opening ceremony at 5:00 pm at the East Beach Bathhouse (1118 E. Cabrillo Boulevard).
Registration for the 5K Walk is now open. Individuals and teams can register online at mentalwellnesscenter.org, by calling 805-884-8440, or at the event between 4:00-5:00 pm. Participants are welcome to stick around after the Walk for dinner, a raffle, and live music featuring Upstream, a reggae and Caribbean music band.
The walk-only registration fee is $25 and full-event registration is $50, which includes an event t-shirt, raffle ticket and dinner provided by East Beach Grill. Student registration is $20 with student ID.
Funds raised will benefit the Mental Wellness Center, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, education and direct services to individuals and families in Santa Barbara affected by mental illness.
For more information about the Walk for Mental Wellness, please visit www.MentalWellnessCenter.org or contact Alex Health at 805-884-8440, ahealth@mentalwellnesscenter.org.
About the Mental Wellness Center: The Mental Wellness Center is a private, non-profit organization that recognizes that mental illness is a community matter that affects us all. The Mental Wellness Center is dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by mental illness, through support, education, and direct services.