Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2018 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk!
The 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk is the largest event focused solely on raising awareness and funds for OCD and related disorders. This year, over $162,000 was raised by over 2,500 participants to help fund programs that support all those affected by OCD and related disorders.
Whether you were able to join us at the flagship 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk in Boston, attend one of the 26 Walks hosted by our Local Affiliates that took place in cities across the US, or participate by holding your own grassroots Community Walk, you’ve helped all those affected by OCD and related disorders by raising awareness and funds for an often misunderstood and incorrectly portrayed disorder.
History of the OCD Walk
Each June, members of the OCD community from across the country – and around the world – join together and walk to raise awareness, hope, and funds to support the important programs of the International OCD Foundation and our partnering Local Affiliates. These programs aim to drive change through advocacy, education, research, and resources that improve the lives of those living with OCD and related disorders.
“To me, participating in the 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk is about hope. Sometimes hope burns so brightly; in other moments, it may feel out of reach. When we all gather together for the Walk, the experience fills up the hope tank: it’s a powerful visual reminder that although we are separate individuals, families, providers, programs, we are one community across the country and the globe, and can take on any challenge together. It’s an opportunity to take literal steps, side by side, to change the future for individuals with OCD and related disorders.”
— Jordan Cattie, 2017 OCD Georgia Walk Organizer
Our Inspiration
In 2012, Denis Asselin walked over 500 miles — or roughly one million steps — from his home in Cheyney, PA, to Boston, MA, in memory of his son Nathaniel. Nathaniel took his own life at just 24, after a long struggle with severe body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and OCD. After Nathaniel’s death, Denis decided to embark on a pilgrimage to honor Nathaniel and to raise awareness about the disorder that stole his young son’s life. On June 5, 2012, Denis completed his walk in Boston, and was greeted by staff of the International OCD Foundation, as well as friends, family, and members of the OCD community at a rally honoring Denis and supporting OCD and BDD awareness. To carry on this tradition, the 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk was created the following year in the same spirit of raising awareness, funds, and hope. It is in this spirit of hope that we invite you to join us.
Why Walk for OCD?
Denis Asselin, aka Walking Denis, shares “Why I Walk”:
Kat, who’s participated in the OCD Walk for 5 years in a row, discusses “Why I STILL Walk”: