Our dear friends and family,

Anyone receiving this letter knows what Sam and I (and Mindy) have been doing over the past ten years. In fact, we've been SO involved that it has become our number # 1 topic of conversation. You say "Whatcha been up to?", and we go the whole nine yards on Mental Illness. Small wonder that you might have a slightly glazed look in your eye by the time we come to the end of our mantra!

It HAS been a rough ten years with Mindy and Mental Illness. And, each of you has been an absolute ROCK (pardon the geologic pun) of support for us. Many times, Sam and I would have collapsed without your understanding and love for us. We've learned a great deal about human suffering through this experience. We've become more humble through this experience, and more grateful for our GOOD fortune, of which there is much! And, we've shared a lot of sadness with many people, friends and strangers alike, from mental illness to cancer. It has not been at all unusual for one of you to say, in confidence and relief "You know, I have a brother….." It has become pretty apparent to us that mental illness strikes all over the place, and is a major, major problem in our society. Not only for the ADAMS', but also for many of you, and many others!

You also probably know that for the last five years, Sam and I have been involved, then VERY involved in National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). We found out about it from a fellow-geologist whom we had known for years, from Texas. One night, we wives were talking about family, and she was telling me about their mentally ill son. I shrieked "OH, We have one of those too!" She told us about the caring support system of NAMI, for families of mentally ill, and Sam and I got involved. First, we took a course called Family to Family, 12 weeks curriculum taught by trained family members to family members, to help everyone learn how to live with a pretty difficult situation, and yet still take care of our own lives. Then Sam and I became the trained teachers, and taught the course in Littleton, NH. Then we became Board members for NAMI NH, and very most recently, Sam has become the president of our NAMI NH State chapter.

Well, wanting to have an identity of my own, I found myself agreeing to become the Events Coordinator of NAMI's NH WALKATHON! First-ever significant fund-raising, stigma busting event for mental illness. The WALK is being piloted in 12 states and is a NAMI national project. NAMI National is guiding me through the process of setting up a major walk, in Manchester, on Sunday, May 18. It's confusing, and exciting!

Most exciting is that the money we raise from this walk will stay in NH, with only a small amount to be directed to NAMI National for administrative assistance.. We will be able to start new programs in NH (like our Family to Family), and pursue research and recovery programs.

So, "What have we been up to?" Sam and I will be putting together a 'family' team of walkers and supporters, called MINDY'S MIRACLES, who would help us raise this money for NAMI NH This is a 5 K walk (NOT RUN). We hope to have 50-60 friends and family walking with us. We will be wearing bright team T shirts, designed by nephew Jeff Martel of OD Design. The other family teams will be wearing their own version of T shirt, so it should be a colorful event! We'll sing and holler and make a lot of noise, and have a lot of fun!

We wish each and every one of you could join us. Obviously, many of you are too far away. If you can walk with us, bring your own friends and family. Raise money from your own friends and family who do cannot walk with us. (You can see it is kinda a pyramid effect!). There is no set amount, no amount per mile. Just MONEY; a check made out to 'NAMI NH, and sent to us. We obviously would love to have your support in person, but will know that your hearts are with us from your generosity!

Checks to NAMI NH; Nancy Adams, 106B Arlington St, Manchester, NH 03104