Press Release
Kristine Sarkauskas, President & CEO of the Mental Health Association (MHA) in Indian River County, Inc., received two proclamations last week naming February 23rd Mental Health Association Awareness Day. The proclamations were presented to Ms. Sarkauskas from the County Board of Commissioners and later in the same day, from the Mayor and City Council of Vero Beach.
The proclamations are in recognition of two major fundraising events being presented by the MHA on Saturday, February 23rd. These signature events for TurtleTrax 2008: Opening Doors Changing Lives are made possible by Barbara Becker Hurley, the event’s Grand Benefactor.
Kicking off the February 23rd events at Riverside Park at 9 a.m. is the Turtle Trek ( 5K walk), designed to bring awareness to the MHA in a way to “pull people out of their shell”, walk for a good cause, and reach towards sunnier skies and more productive lives. Walkers can register with Katie at 772-569-9788.
The second event of the day is the TurtleTrax© Community Festival & Art Exhibit, which immediately follows the completion of the walk at 10 a.m.. The Festival will bring the community together in a creative, non-threatening way to reduce the stigma and increase awareness of mental health issues through entertainment, children’s activities, artist displays and informational booths. Hope, Courage, Balance, Play, Renewal and Grace are the themes chosen for the artistic portion of the Festival’s Art Exhibit featuring turtles, doors and hand painted cobblestone paths decorated to the spirited and uplifting themes.
The MHA has presented the TurtleTrax© program since 2004. It combines fundraising and public art to lend community awareness of the MHA services that help provide guidance for individuals getting over life's hurdles. The MHA strives, on a daily basis, to help individuals in our community to live, happy and productive lives through solid, healthy mental health. For more information on the MHA, visit www.mhairc.org, or for information on the February 23rd events, visit www.turtletrax.org.