| What are you doing on Sunday? Fancy a walk in the sun? Why not join me for the [NAMIWalks for the Mind of America](http://www.namiwalks.org/) at Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade Festival Area.
During the last three very difficult years, NAMI have provided my family with immeasurable hope, support and education allowing us to understand and start coping with mental illness. The sad fact of mental illness is that great harm can is often caused by the stigma associated with the disease, much as the stigma of HIV isolated and punished so many in the early '80s.
Why not come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my [personal walker page](http://www.nami.org/namiwalks06/NOR/pbrett) to sign up. There is a link so you can donate directly to me on-line. Donating on-line is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation.
[NAMI](http://www.nami.org/), the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those who’s lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.
The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.
NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A+" rating by [The American Institute of Philanthropy](http://www.charitywatch.org/) for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars. NAMI has also been given 4 out of 4 stars by [The Charity Navigator](http://www.charitynavigator.org/) for short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability.
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