Boston Marathon runners Natasha Snapper (left) and Diana Hockett
AWI halibut logo 128

 

 

 

 Why I am running the Boston Marathon for AWI: Natasha Snapper



Call to Action

A young woman, Natasha Snapper, emailed me that a Boston Marathon entry to benefit AWI might be available through the town of Wellesley. She wrote, "I am contacting you in order to see if you have a team participating in the Boston Marathon this upcoming April. I grew up in Wellesley and now am studying at the University of Miami. ...I feel strongly about spreading awareness about anxiety and depression as I have personally been affected by both, and have seen many people around me struggle with it as well. As I take on the challenge to run the Boston Marathon this spring, I would love to run and raise money for something that I am passionate about."


Natasha then helped secure the marathon entry to benefit AWI! During the application process, Natasha wrote the town's Deputy Director, "By raising (money) for this very important organization, I will increase the number of adolescents who go through life without depression and anxiety, and that's exactly what I want to do."


Natasha has now launched her campaign to raise $22,000 to benefit AWI; she explains the importance of the number 22 below. I hope you make a donation. If you give $1,000 or more, Natasha will ask you to name one of the 26 miles on her map of the marathon. For my gift, I have selected Mile 12 because that is where the race route enters Wellesley.  I have asked that the mile be named for Natasha Snapper! Please click here to view her video.


-Bob Anthony


FEATURED GUEST


Natasha Snapper


I am excited to announce that I am taking on the challenge of the Boston Marathon this upcoming April. Since I started my sophomore year of high school, running the Boston Marathon has always been a dream of mine. As many of you probably know, in order to run Boston, you either have to qualify, or apply to raise money for a charity. Because I was sure that my 9:30 average half-marathon mileage pace probably wouldn't qualify, I knew that I was going to fundraise. One thing that I knew, however, is that if I was going to take on the challenge of raising a large amount of money for a charity, I wanted it to be a charity that I felt passionate about. And that's where Adolescent Wellness Inc. (AWI) comes into play. When I researched charities that were active in Wellesley, I stumbled across AWI whose mission is for children "to get through adolescence without developing symptoms of anxiety and depression". Right when I saw those words, I knew that AWI was the charity that I wanted to devote my time, effort, and training towards. Spreading awareness about the importance of mental health has always been something that is important to me. Being personally affected and seeing my friends struggle with anxiety and depression as early as middle school, I realized that this importance of taking care of not only your physical state, but also your mental state, is definitely underemphasized.

 
Specifically, I am running in honor of Nicholas Leonhardt, one of my high school classmates who passed away this past October. Before his death, Nick was working at Three Points Center in Utah where he felt he could share and help others with anxiety and depression. I will always remember the memories shared with Nick, including going to the Wellesley Pancake Festival and playing foosball in my basement together. Nick's passing breaks my heart and underlines the reasons why I chose to run for Adolescent Wellness specifically. I would love to make a difference that could help spread awareness about these important issues in our local communities.


Research shows that if you teach healthy coping skills to 22 youth, it prevents 1 case of severe depression. This is a theme for my fundraising: it is my goal to raise 22 thousand dollars for Adolescent Wellness. Together we can raise money to prevent some cases of mental illness, or even save a life. I need your help to make that difference.
DID YOU KNOW...
10% of middle school children report depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation? 


The call for all towns to prioritize depression prevention was made in 2011 by the Surgeon General. Ask your town's mental health consultant how much they have reduced the incidence of depression since that date.


We know that most cases begin by age 15 and that 1 in 5 cases of depression are wholly preventable, given healthy coping skills. AWI collaborates with community organizations to introduce the activities that build healthy coping skills. The Rotary club of Wellesley produced this video about its international  Peer Leadership and Depression Prevention projects.


AWI collaborates with Rotary on Peer Leadership and Depression Prevention projects

AWI collaborates with Rotary

 

Support Boston Marathon runner Natasha Snapper and AWI 




Your donation to AWI is greatly appreciated.  AWI leverages every dollar effectively, providing curricula and facilitation training to teen leaders.  The web link goes to credit card processing; checks may be made payable to Adolescent Wellness, Inc. and mailed to 103 Old Colony Road, Wellesley, MA 02481.



AWI is a 501c3 non-profit and gifts are tax deductible.


You can also select Adolescent Wellness, Inc. to support through purchases at smile.amazon.com.
AWI Volunteers


The people who make it happen!
  • Bob Anthony - President
  • Chip Douglas - Director
  • Phyllis Gimbel - Director
  • Calvin Place - Director
  • Lisa Siegel - Director
  • Penny Wells - Director
  • Frank Hays - Marketing
  • Cindy Hurley - Wellesley HS counselor
  • Hannah Lee - Youth Advisory
  • Lindsay Canaday - Youth Advisory
  • Roberta Boylen - Spring Awakening
  • Nancy Place - Spring Awakening 
  • Nelda Siemion - Development 






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Bob Anthony | Adolescent Wellness, Inc. | 781.727.8617 | [email protected] | www.AdolescentWellness.org

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Adolescent Wellness, Inc. | 103 Old Colony Road | Wellesley | MA | 02481