Miss Arizona Katherine Kennedy Takes Lead In Mental Health Walk

Katherine Kennedy, Miss Arizona 2004, has taken up the mantle of chair and spokesperson for the first ever in Arizona Walk for the Mind of America mental illness awareness and fund-raising event April 16 at the Arizona State Capitol.

Kennedy is organizing a "queen team" to participate in the 5 kilometer stroll to raise awareness and support for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, a grass roots mental health organization offering support, education and advocacy for the millions of Americans that suffer from mental illness.

The walk, one of nearly 50 scheduled in communities nationwide, is a national effort to bring about awareness of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and severe anxiety disorders. Such disorders affect one in four individuals and their families.

Kennedy, whose reign ends at the end of June, is no stranger to mental illness as the disease has had a major impact in her own family.

"I have an uncle who suffers from mental illness," said Kennedy, an Arizona State University graduate. "And my grandmother is very involved in NAMI Arizona. In fact, she is getting her own team ready for the walk."

Kennedy said she thought the "queen team", to be made up of other beauty pageant participants and winners as well as friends, would be fun and she anticipates a group totaling 25.

"We're going to wear our crowns for the walk," said Kennedy. "And the ones who don't have crowns will be given the paper ones from Burger King. I know that sounds kind of silly and we don't like to wear them all the time, but we felt it would be fun. And if that is what it takes to help spread the word about combating and dealing with mental illness, then it will be worth it."

Kennedy has made numerous appearances around the state attending Walk for the Mind of America kickoff events hosted by NAMI affiliates. The affiliates are soliciting fund-raising teams to participate in the walk.

Companies and organizations statewide are encouraged to join the walk and help raise money to fund research and ongoing support, research and advocacy programs, according to Adrienne Pagel, state NAMI Walk organizer.

"Mental illness carries such a stigma with it that it is often ignored or swept under the rug," said Pagel. "People carry shame, guilt, embarrassment and grief. We need to change that and the Walk will be a big help."

Pagel added that mental illnesses are brain diseases and research dollars are needed to understand and eventually find a cause and cures.

"It is no different than Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, heart disease, AIDS or breast cancer," she said
For more information on the Walk for the Mind of America or any of the NAMI programs, contact Pagel or Carol Cronlund at 480-308-9700, or by email at walk@nami-events.org. or visit www.nami.org on the Internet.