Support me as I challenge myself to raise awareness and educate teens about depression.
Thank you for supporting my fundraising efforts towards reaching my goal of running the Chicago Marathon! I have been given the opportunity to run in support of the nonprofit organization Erika's Lighthouse. Erika's Lighthouse is based just outside of Chicago. The organization's mission is to increase mental health awareness and provide services to teenagers.
As a teacher, this cause means a lot to me. I taught middle- and high-school for eight years in New York City and saw many of my students struggle with their mental health. With the vulnerability that comes along with technological advances and social media, teenagers are much more exposed than they were in my younger years. Perspective is a hard thing to consider as a teenager. Organizations like Erika's Lighthouse emphasize the importance of keeping mental health a priority.
Erika's Lighthouse is determined to make sure no young person feels alone in their depression. We are dedicated to creating a community of empathy and education. We create middle school and high school teen depression awareness programs so educators and teens can create safe spaces to learn about depression, letting students know they are never alone, and there is somewhere to turn.