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More than 2,000 supporters walked on the Jones Beach boardwalk on May 15th under the leadership of NAMI Queens/Nassau (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and other Long Island NAMI affiliates to increase public awareness about mental illness and raise funds for NAMI. In walking they joined fifty other NAMIs nationwide in the coast-to-coast NAMI Walks for the Mind of America Campaign to maintain and grow NAMI's support, education, and advocacy programs. Walkers rocked to the music of the "Lester Swing" band and "The Side Effects," a singing group. Spirits soared as everyone realized that the crowd exceeded all expectations.

According to Janet Susin, Co-President of NAMI Queens/Nassau and the walk's co-chairperson, "For many, a diagnosis of mental illness can mean living in silence and shame for the entire family. The walk is an important step in mainstreaming this no-fault disease, bringing it out of the darkness and into the light of respect and understanding. I am grateful to all those who contributed so generously to this groundbreaking event." Dr. John Kane, vice president of behavioral health services for North Shore LIJ Health System, who, along with Dr. Bernard Rosof, senior vice president for corporate relations for North Shore LIJ Health System, co-chaired the event, agreed that "efforts such as Sunday's walk are extremely important in increasing awareness and understanding of mental illness. These disorders affect so many people and create so much suffering and disability, yet they remain under-diagnosed, under-treated and under-researched."

Lunch was provided by J&B Restaurant Partners, Inc., owners of all Long Island Friendly's restaurants and operator of the State Concessions at Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Parks. "We are proud to support NAMI Walks and contribute to destigmatizing mental illness," said Joe Vitrano, president and CEO of J&B Restaurant Partners.

NAMI Walks gold sponsors were Zucker Hillside Hospital North Shore LIJ Health System; Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Pfizer; and J&B Restaurant Partners.

NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to improving the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these diseases. NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of people with mental illness and their families and friends. For more information contact NAMI Queens/Nassau, 1983 Marcus Avenue, Lake Success, NY 11042, 516-326-0797.