Hello Family and Friends,

It has been nearly 3 years that I have joined the Walk for Mental Health Awareness - Houston family and I have seen in first hand all the greatness this organization has done for the city of Houston and mental health awareness overall. The Walk Houston has started a city wide positive public dialog surrounding, mental illnesses while, breaking down barriers and creating a judgment free environment one person at a time. Whether you are directly or indirectly connected with mental illness I am asking you please join my team "Defenders of the Mind" as a walker and/or please make a donation. Any small donation will go a long way thank you for your generosity. #EndTheStigma #TurnHoustonLimegreen #MentalHealthAwareness

I am walking this year at the 2016 5K Walk in honor of 3 of my family members:

First, my lovely mother who has successfully lived a normal life the past 20 years with major depression. Through faith and medication she has managed to take control of her depression and not allow depression to control her life.

Secondly, my outgoing, full of energy 8 year old princess (my niece). She has be diagnosed since the age of 5 with ADHD. Through diet, constant review from her doctors and her medication she has been given a chance to live an as normal life there is for a first grader. Although, she has had many struggles in school with focusing and stay on task, she is excited to say she will be a second grader next year. We, her family has to give thanks to a.) God, b.) Her hard work, c.) Her teachers and district special educational staff, d.) Her doctors, and e.) Her medication.

Lastly, my eldest brother who for the last 7 years has lived with depression, addiction, and borderline Schizophrenia. Different from my mother and niece my brother refuses to receive help due to what he feels society would view him less than. My family has struggled the most with him throughout the years. I understand that many people has lived a health life without the help of medication. However, with my experience with seeing both my mother and niece live a healthy life with medication and how my brother just could not seem to get his life straight due to the lack of medication. I just want to educate those living with a mental illness that there is help out there, if you want it. Be proactive. The mind is a beautiful thing.