WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

I AM ONE OF THEM: Mental Health Awareness Walk
Hike it/Bike it Across Wisconsin
Sharing the Healing, Sharing the Hope

On Father's Day, June 16, 2002, it will be one month since Tiffany Koehler and myself started our journey across the State of Wisconsin for the next 12 days. Jeanne Geraci also joined us for 5 of those days! What blessings we have received during that time!! Most of all, we treasure the friends we made by getting to know you. It was thrilling to share our stories of hope, but most of all to hear 100's of stories of hope and courage from persons and families suffering from mental illness. Today is a new day and there is more hope than ever in the lives of each one of us! Forward - that is our motto for our journey is only beginning.

... Tiffany and I would like to keep you updated as to where we continue to go on this journey - but also we need your ideas and support as we reach out to others - sharing the healing, sharing the hope!

We challenge each organization to recognize 100 Heroes in October - persons with mental illness who are doing well, but live in a very hidden way. All of us need affirmation and appreciation. Now is the time to share with the world all the positive success stories of persons with mental illness, people who are willing to share their stories. This may be one of the most effective ways to overcome the stigma of mental illness - putting names, faces and stories to persons with mental illness. Are you open to this challenge? Would you be willing to recognize others who are doing so well - maybe not perfect, maybe struggling - but living a very normal life with their illness. Success brings more success!

Continued blessings and much peace,

Sr. Ann Catherine

Happy Father's Day to all men - it is your day to receive the affirmation you deserve for your contributions to all of humanity! You have my thanks!