Mental Health Awareness and Memorial Walk

Friday, September 26, 2025 Past event

6:00 PM CDT

Albers, Illinois

$26.25 · 1 race

1 Mile

Event summary

Join us for the 8th Annual Mental Health Awareness and Memorial Walk on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Lehrter Park in Albers, Illinois. This heartfelt 1-mile walk honors the memory of Sydney Irizarry, a vibrant young woman whose life was tragically cut short by suicide in 2018. The event aims to raise vital funds for the Swing for Sydney Foundation, which actively works to bring attention to mental health issues and provide essential resources to those in need.

As mental health challenges continue to affect individuals across all walks of life, this walk serves as an empowering reminder of the importance of community, support, and awareness. By participating, you not only pay tribute to Sydney’s legacy but also contribute to ongoing efforts that benefit local schools and organizations dedicated to mental health education and prevention. Come together to walk for change, support one another, and help create a brighter future for all.

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Races

8th Annual Mental Health Awareness and Memorial 1 Mile Walk

Incl. $1.25 Fee & 6 Raffle Tickets and a Swag Bag

Each registered household will receive 1 Swag Bag, 1 Glow stick per person registered in the household, and 6 raffle tickets per person registered in the household.

6:00 PM CDT

$26.25

Entries closed

Organiser's description

This will be an in-person 1 Mile Walk held at Lehrter Park, Albers, IL. This is the 8th Annual fundraising walk in memory of Sydney Irizarry who lost her life to suicide in 2018. All proceeds will benefit the Swing for Sydney Foundation.

Mental Health problems are becoming more and more prevalent in our society. It is an issue that needs more funding, more attention, and more information provided to everyone. Mental health problems affect everyone no matter age, race, gender, religion, socio-economic status, single, married, intellect, rural or city dweller. In 2018, the world lost an amazing 18 year old woman, named Sydney Irizarry, to suicide.

Her father, Andre, started the Swing For Sydney Foundation as a way to keep mental health issues at the forefront of people's minds and to hopefully prevent anyone else from feeling the overwhelming grief of losing a loved one to suicide. Since its inception, the foundation has provided money to several area schools for school supplies, meals, and other resources that children need, scholarships for students at Central High School, as well as organizations such as Lifesavers and Coping for Kids, Coping for Life. Swing For Sydney has worked with a local grief and counseling group to provide informative talks to parents, teachers, and students on the topics of mental health, drug use, and suicide prevention.