Shore House Opens First Virtual
it all at once. Either way, we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.”
The entry fee for the race is a $25 donation per person, and there are special
packages available for families and children under 17 years of age. All registrants
will be emailed a race bib.
After registering for the race, Shore House encourages participants to then
create their own fundraising campaign via the Race for Recovery website and
reach out to their friends, family, colleagues, etc. through social media networks
asking them to donate and make someone’s recovery possible. Participants can
create their own team, join a team, raise funds for a Shore House member’s
team, or go solo.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Shore House programs to ensure
those who struggle with mental health challenges have a place to belong, can
heal and regain their independence, and stay on the path to recovery.
“‘The Race for Recovery 2020’ will generate awareness about Shore House
and the plight of those afflicted with severe and persistent mental illness, opening
the path to their right to recovery,” said Stephen Theccanat. “As both a psychiatrist
and a member of the Shore House board of trustees, I am fully dedicated
to the advancement of what we offer the mental health community and believe
that Shore House has the potential to be the seed of change that will allow for
other clubhouses to be created in underserved areas throughout New Jersey.“
For more information or to get involved, visit ShoreHouseNJ.org.
TheJournalNJ.com | MAY 2020 43
‘Race to Recovery’ to All
One in five Americans will experience mental illness in a given
year. One in five children, either currently or at some point
during their lives, have had a seriously debilitating mental
illness. Yet, recovery is possible. Research shows that with the right
support, people with mental illness can get better and many recover
completely.
With so much uncertainty in the world today, the emotional,
physical and mental toll the current public health crisis has had on
all is understandable. For people with severe mental illness, like
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, PTSD or other
conditions, who have for so long already been socially and physically
distanced and self-isolated, their problems become compounded as
their fear and anxiety is heightened.
This May, in acknowledgment of National Mental Health Awareness
Month, Shore House, a community-based membership nonprofit
organization based in Long Branch, is holding its first statewide virtual
“Race for Recovery 2020” and fundraising campaign.
Shore House helps people living with mental illness regain a respected
place in society through work, education, wellness and community
and is one of 320 clubhouses world-wide. The Long Branch
location is the first and only accredited clubhouse in New Jersey. The
clubhouse model is a proven, evidence-based program that offers
psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery support to individuals with
severe and persistent mental illness.
“Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression,
and negative mood swings and promotes self-esteem and cognitive
function,” said Executive Director of Shore House Susan Mazzeo.
“Laughter is scientifically proven to benefit mental health. Leading
benefits of laughter include stress reduction, strengthened social connections
and the release of your body’s ‘feel good’ chemical, endorphins.
Exercise and laughter, that’s what the virtual ‘Race for Recovery
2020’ is all about.”
Once registered for the race, participants can do either a 1-, 2- or
5-mile course and can walk, run, hike, swim, row, surf, hop, skip, jump
rope, skateboard or bicycle in their own home, in their front yard,
around the block, around the neighborhood, at the park, whenever
and wherever. The race is open to everyone, including clubs, teams
and individuals.
“No excuses,” Mazzeo said. “You don’t have to wake up early. You
can start any time you feel like it, and you’re guaranteed first place.
Based on the honor system, you won’t be timed, so it doesn’t matter
when you finish because you’re most definitely a winner as you are
making someone’s recovery possible and it doesn’t get better than
that. Participants can even break up the race over multiple days or do
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