ATLANTA, Georgia, May 18, 2015 — The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and OCD Georgia are co-sponsoring the 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk set to take place June 6, 2015, at Chastain Park in Atlanta. The walk aims to raise awareness about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health disorder that affects 1 in 100 adults.
While “OCD” has taken on a trivial meaning in pop culture, the reality of the disorder is far different from the stereotypes seen on TV. No one knows this better than Walk Chair Margaret Sisson.
Sisson has long been an enthusiastic advocate for the mental health community, but bringing this walk to Atlanta became even more important after the loss of her son, Riley Sisson, late last year. Riley struggled with addiction and severe OCD for years, and Margaret is passionate about making sure families in the Atlanta area have access to the care and resources they need to thrive.
“Riley was a dedicated, passionate person in everything he did,” says Sisson. “I am committed to honoring his memory by working to give everyone with OCD a fighting chance.”
This new walk in Atlanta coincides with 2 other walks also happening on June 6 in Boston, MA and Sacramento, CA, in addition to many smaller grassroots walks around the country. The walks all part of the IOCDF’s 1 Million Steps 4 OCD campaign, an effort to raise awareness about OCD and break the stigma surrounding mental illness.
“OCD Georgia is excited about bringing the 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk to Atlanta,” says Kasey Brown, the OCD Georgia president. “We have a great community of individuals, mental health professionals and loved ones who are looking forward to being part of such a great event.”
This year’s Walk grand marshal is Susan Boaz. Boaz is the vice president of the IOCDF and a longtime advocate for pediatric OCD and PANDAS awareness.
Anyone interested in joining the IOCDF and OCD Georgia for the 1 Million Steps for OCD Walk on June 6 can visit www.iocdf.org/walkAtlanta to learn more.
About the International OCD Foundation
The International OCD Foundation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization, working to increase access to effective treatment, end the stigma associated with mental health issues, and foster a community for those affected by OCD and the professionals who treat them. Based in Boston, the IOCDF has affiliates in 25 states and territories, as well as 9 Global Partners. The IOCDF was founded as the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation in 1986. Now in its 27th year, the organization has an over $1.5 million annual operating budget, has granted millions of dollars for OCD research, and is a vital resource for the estimated 1 in 100 individuals with OCD around the world. For more information, visit http://iocdf.org.
About OCD Georgia
OCD Georgia, Inc., the Georgia affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), was founded in 2011 to increase awareness of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and its treatment, provide information to Georgians with OCD and related disorders and their families and friends, and offer OCD educational and outreach programs to mental health professionals and the Georgia community. Through providing resources at the local level, the goal of OCD Georgia is to help reduce the time it takes people suffering from OCD to find the right treatment.
For more information, contact
Jeff Smith,
IOCDF Director of Development
Phone: 617-973-5801
Email: jsmith@iocdf.org
Kasey Brown
President, OCD Georgia
Phone: 706-425-2809
Email: Kasey@OCDGeorgia.org