Event raises mental health awareness

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

June 6, 2010

Editor, the Record:

The 10th Annual Mental Health Awareness Walk was held May 21. The theme of the walk was Hope — The Spirit of Recovery.

Speakers included Sheila Theodorou, Administrator of Carbon-Monroe-Pike MH/MR; Patty Fascio, Associate Regional Director of Community Care Behavioral Health; Representative Mario Scavello; and Stephen Washington, Chief of Staff for Representative John Siptroth. Numerous persons in recovery offered testimonies at the park and provided the highlight of the day.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who spoke and who attended and supported the walk. I would also like to thank the following:

The Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg Boroughs for the 10 years we have been granted the opportunity to hold our walk. The Stroud Are Regional Police for assisting with traffic.

Gary Smith (Gary in the Morning) for acting as the master of ceremonies and supplying the technical assistance and sound system equipment.

Mary Lininger (Merry’s Custom Cakes) for the donation of two sheet cakes.

Pastor Dana Antal of the Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church for offering the blessing in his ongoing support for persons with mental illness.

Pennsylvania Mentor for the gift of water bottles.

New Hope Recovery Work Center for their valued assistance.

And finally thanks to Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health/Mental Retardation for supporting this effort for the past 10 years.

We had another great day where we were able to support recovery and fight stigma.

NORMA J. SWINT

Community Outreach

C-M-P MH/MR