(L. to r., from front) Savannah Beaudry, Katherine Currie, Carmen Edwards, Steven Doyle, Laura Personette, Tonya Baily-Curry, Lynsey Wood, and Steve Thibeault participated in the 12th annual “Walk to Start the Talk.”

Students from the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College and their families recently took part in supporting community partner National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine by participating in the 12th annual “Walk the Walk to Start the Talk” event at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland.

The event is NAMI Maine’s largest anti-stigma and fund-raising campaign. 100% of the money raised from the walk stays in Maine to provide community education, support, and advocacy to all Mainer’s affected directly or indirectly by mental illness. The state’s largest grassroots support, education and advocacy organization committed to this issue, NAMI Maine is an active voice for families, individuals and professionals whose daily lives are impacted by mental illness.