Mental Wellness Walk

UPDATE (9/22/22):

Due to heavy rain on September 10th, we had to cancel the in-person gathering of the 2022 Mental Wellness Walk. Our team investigated possible dates for rescheduling the Walk in Carrier Park this year. Unfortunately, we were unable to find an alternate date to reschedule the in-person Walk this year due to limitations on park permits from the City of Asheville.

As a result, we are shifting all activities to a VIRTUAL WALK this year. Each Walk participant and team will be able to gather on the date and time of their choosing to show their support for mental wellness in our community. 

Please read the following instructions to learn how to participate in our Virtual Walk this year and be entered into a raffle for a gift basket with lots of local goodies!

1. If you registered in time to request a Mental Wellness Walk T-Shirt, they will be available to pick up on the following dates and times at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Western Carolina office located at 356 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 (within the lobby of the RHA Health Services Building)

1. Monday thru Friday, 10am-2pm, between the dates of September 26 to October 14th. 

2. If you’re unable to stop by during these times on Mon-Fri, we’ll offer a Saturday pickup on Saturday, October 15th, from 10am-1pm. 

2. Once you’ve picked up your t-shirt, you’re ready to get outside and walk whenever you’d like! Enjoy the fresh air and bring friends. 

1. Please snap a picture during your walk and post it on social media, either facebook or instagram, with a short statement about why mental health awareness is important to you. If you tag @allsoulscounseling and @NAMIWesternCarolina in your post, you will be automatically entered into a raffle for a Gift Basket containing a $150 Gift Card to Ingles, a $120 Gift Card to The Cantina At Historic Biltmore Village, a Willow Hill Soap Company Gift Box (valued at $75), and other local culinary treats. The deadline to participate is October 22nd, and we’ll announce the winner of the Gift Basket raffle in late October. Please use the hashtags #mentalwellnesswalk and #whyiwalk when posting! Please note, if you did not choose to get a Walk t-shirt or did not register in time to snag one, you can still post your picture on social media and get entered into the raffle. 

We were very much looking forward to seeing everyone in person this year, but our Virtual Walk is still a wonderful way for you to help normalize seeking help for mental health challenges and share your story. 

The Mental Wellness Walk would not be possible without the support of our extremely generous sponsors and their recognition of the importance of accessible mental health resources in WNC. 

• Presenting Sponsor: First Bank

• Media Sponsor: WLOS News 13

• Gold Level Sponsor: Mission Health

• Silver Level Sponsors:

• AVL Technologies

• Beverly-Grant

• Bonnie R. & William H. Kinschner Family Foundation

• Capstone Health Alliance

• Duke Energy

• MAHEC

• Parsec Financial

• Realty One Group Pivot

• Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness

• Wells Fargo

• WNC Bridge Foundation

• Vaya Health

• Bronze Level Sponsors:

• RHA Health Services

• Kudzu Brands

We’re so thankful for the support of each and every participant and sponsor this year. We hope to see everyone’s pictures and social media posts soon!

-The Teams at NAMI WC and All Souls Counseling Center 

When: Saturday, September 10th, 2022, 10am

Where: Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd., Asheville, NC 28806. The Walk will start and end at the Carrier Park shelter, located here: 

https://goo.gl/maps/7LqrnV69MuEW11tK6

The total walk distance is 5K, with the option for a shorter 2K course as well.

Would you like to signup to volunteer at the Mental Wellness Walk? We're in need of a large variety of volunteers, including setup & cleanup, and water station volunteers. Click here to sign up to volunteer!

We're so excited for the 6th Annual Mental Wellness Walk! After two years of holding the walk virtually due to the pandemic, we're returning to an in-person event this year and we can't wait to see you there.

The Mental Wellness Walk raises awareness of the mental health community resources available in our community and helps to end the stigma around seeking help. It is the premiere gathering of mental health providers, partners, and supporters in Western North Carolina that unite in the common goal of making mental health care accessible for all. The Walk is a public forum for normalizing conversations around mental health struggles so that all of us who need help can more easily access a qualified professional or peer for support. The Walk is hosted by All Souls Counseling Center (ASCC) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Western Carolina (NAMI WC). All funds raised will support ASCC and NAMI WC's work.

Why participate in the Mental Wellness Walk?

• Our community is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis in the wake of the pandemic and recent gun violence. Residents of Buncombe County have continually rated Mental Health as one of the most pressing public health issues facing our community
• We want you to celebrate with us! Join us for a day of fresh air, exercise, and local music and network with a gathering of County and City leaders, business leaders, nonprofit partners, and many WNC residents that support mental health solutions!
• Come learn about all the mental health resources available in WNC! Many mental health providers, and support organizations will have tables at the event so you can learn about their services

All Souls Counseling Center is a nonprofit organization that provides quality mental health counseling to uninsured and underinsured residents of Western North Carolina. www.allsoulscounseling.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Western Carolina is an affiliate of NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. www.namiwnc.org