by Emalee Gillis, NAMI Spokane Blog Editor.
Shamra Andrews will be at NAMI Walks 2025 and she encourages others to join her. She has walked it before and felt supported.
“It was great to see how many people were there to support the cause. I felt camaraderie. I loved being with the large of a group of people who all had the same hope and vision for getting support for people with mental health conditions and their loved ones,” she said.
“Being present at NAMIWalks was a statement: I am here because I support this,” she added.
Shamra lives with mental health conditions. Her life experience includes bouts with mania followed by horrible depressions. She has had multiple diagnosis including generalized anxiety with panic attacks, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and anorexia. But, with hard work and support she has recovered.
When Shamra walked with NAMIWalks, the mood of the crowd at NAMIWalks touched her.
“There was excitement from being around other people with a shared vision. I felt some adrenaline.”
Shamra appreciated walking with her husband by her side.
“It was nice to have a family member with me on the walk. I felt supported and encouraged.”
Shamra signed up for NAMIWalks 2025 because she wanted to continue to be part of the movement and to watch it grow. She wanted her body to be present.
“I think the community needs to see what is important to us. Being there shows our faces, shows that we want to come together. NAMIWalks represents advocacy and helping break stigmas. It helps show that we see mental health as important.”
NAMIWalks 2025 will be held on Saturday, June 21 at Riverfront Park. The opening ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m. and the Walk begins at 10:00 a.m. There are 3 mile and 1 mile options for the Walk. To register or donate, click here.
Shamra Andrews is currently a volunteer with NAMI Spokane. She teaches peer-to-peer classes that provide education for people with mental health conditions and helps facilitate the monthly support group for people who have mental health conditions.
Emalee Gillis is a writer and blog editor. She is the author of the memoir Adventures on the Path to Living Well with a Mental Illness and has a related TEDx Talk.