Saturday's 5K to benefit local NAMI organization
The 2017 NAMI 5K will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Peg Bond Center, 151 N. Island Ave. in downtown Batavia. Advance registration by Thursday, Oct. 5, is $35. Visit nami5K.com. Same-day registration is $40; registration will be available from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m.
A high-quality black technical race shirt with white lettering is guaranteed for everyone who preregisters. Ozzie, the Kane County Cougar mascot, will be present at the finish. Runners will receive an undated reserved seat ticket voucher for the Kane County Cougars and trophies and medals will go to top finishers.
The NAMI 5K is a benefit for NAMI Kane-South, DeKalb and Kendall Counties, a nonprofit, grass-roots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. Learn more by visiting www.namikdk.org.
Proceeds from each participant registration will benefit NAMI KDK to help others in the surrounding community who struggle with mental health conditions. If you cannot participate, but would still like to show support for NAMI KDK, consider making a donation.
It primarily serves individuals with mental illnesses through support services, advocacy, and referrals; family members and caregivers of individuals living with a mental illness through support groups, education classes, and referral services; as well as local high school students through NAMI Ending the Silence programs throughout Kane-south, DeKalb, and Kendall Counties. In 2016, NAMI KDK served approximately 2,400 individuals through various mediums which include: 1,000 high school students through the Ending the Silence programs, 19 individuals through intensive education classes, 640 individual and family members during support groups, 520 community members and other mental health professionals through our outreach and advocacy efforts, and approximately 200 individuals through the direct helpline (630) 896-6264.
NAMI KDK does not charge families, individuals, or schools for any services, classes, or programs because they feel that it is important to provide mental health resources to the community, especially for families in crisis, and school-age children who can be instrumental in spotting early signs of mental health issues in their friends and families members with the appropriate information. NAMI greatly depends on the generosity of the community to support programming for so many affected by mental illness.