Thank you, Boston… and thank you, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Connecticut and Maine and New Hampshire AND Vermont! The 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk in Boston was truly a New England event and was a huge success! And that was all thanks to the dedicated effort and the generosity of more than 320 Walkers who came from all over New England to raise awareness of OCD and raise over $45,000 for IOCDF programs that help all of those living with OCD and related disorders. We would like to thank the more than 48 virtual walkers who were not able to be present in Boston, but who walked in their own communities alone or as part of a group on the days leading up to June 11, 2014.
We are so very grateful to all who made this event a success. We are grateful to our sponsors: Brooks Running, Rhode Island Hospital: Body Dysmorphic Disorder Program, OCD Institute at McLean Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital OCD and Related Disorders Programs, Residence Inn Boston Back Bay – Fenway, and Whole Foods, as well as many donors to our raffle, including the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics!
We are grateful for our Grand Marshals: Mike Jenike, MD, for his endless support of the IOCDF, and Cameron Lucas-Pelletier and his family for generously sharing their personal story and inspiring us to do more to help increase awareness and understanding.
We are especially grateful to you and all of your friends, family and colleagues, and the entire OCD and related disorder community, who enthusiastically supported this walk and made it an overwhelming success.
We are pleased to announce our Top Fundraiser and #1 Walk Team for the Boston Walk! Joann from Boston was our Top Fundraiser, raising more than $3,500! Bradley Hospital was our #1 Walk team with more than 46 people attending the Walk. Congratulations and many thanks to both for your extraordinary efforts to make this walk a success!
We set an aggressive goal for this Walk and we are not quite there — however it is not too late to help! We are leaving the Walk fundraising pages open until July 11th so that walker can continue to raise money, and other donors can still have the opportunity to give. Go to Firstgiving to view all of our walkers, fundraisers, and walk teams, and donate to your favorite fundraisers!
So many other causes and charities have large, visible marches and walks and rallies, but it is rare when people with mental health issues have the same opportunities, due to so much stigma and misunderstanding. We are so honored and humbled to have been part of creating this event, and giving people the opportunity to come together, and find strength in each other.
Last year, I said lets make this a tradition for New England. Well, it looks like we have accomplished that goal! Together we are #1Million4OCD!
It was a great day and turnout! Thank you for bringing awareness to OCD/ BDD! I hope that more cities will follow and additional walks will be planned.
It was such an honor and a privilege to be part of the walk. Can’t wait til next year!