Iowa mom walks over 300 miles across the state to raise awareness for mental health

SOLON, Iowa (KCRG) – Karen Smith, of Solon, is a mom of two youngsters. Each of her two sons and her husband wrestle with types of nervousness, melancholy, PTSD, OCD and ADHD.

“Some days are more durable than others, some weeks are more durable than others,” she instructed TV-9. “And in October we had a tough week.”

That’s when the struggles one in every of her sons was dealing with got here to a head. So she needed to do extra to assist him and different individuals experiencing the identical factor.

“What extra can I do to make him really feel extra comfy speaking about his struggles,” she mentioned.

Quickly after, Smith set out on a 300-plus mile stroll throughout the state of Iowa.

She’s following Iowa Freeway 18 beginning on the bridge over the Large Sioux River and can finish in Marquette.

She’s adopted, nearly, by over 200 individuals between her fb web page the place she posts updates on her journey, and the gofundme arrange for a nonprofit. Smith says any funds donated will go to psychological well being disaster and consciousness organizations equivalent to CommUnity Disaster Providers and Meals Financial institution, I’m Glad You Stayed Mission, and This Is My Courageous.

“I actually assume individuals having the ability to inform their story will assist others achieve a greater understanding of what it’s actually wish to stay with nervousness and melancholy simply on the day-to-day,” mentioned Smith.

Smith has been joined by a number of of her family and friends members as they observe carefully both by foot or by automotive, however she says she has achieved the vast majority of the trek on her personal.

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