‘Gnome One Walks Alone’ 5K in Chesapeake for children’s mental awareness

Kiahnna Patterson
·2 min read

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — The second annual Gnome One Walks Alone 5K run and walk for children’s mental health awareness kicked off Sunday morning.

Families signed up to promote children’s mental health acceptance at Oak Grove Lake Park.

Faith Leonard and her mom Dawn, started making gnomes after an anxiety attack at just 10-years-old. Now the mom and daughter duo own Our Daily Gnome Creative Arts Center at 729 S. Battlefield Blvd.

Last year, about 30 people signed up for the walk and run.

“I’m happy because we’ve had 100 more people recognize and see what we’re doing! They came to this run just for us,” said Faith.

PREVIOUS: Mother-daughter duo offer free Santa event for military, first responder families

Dawn said the center helps kids “kick anxiety” since there is a shortage of mental health resources in the Hampton Roads area.

“We just need more! We’re here not to be therapy, but to be preventive and supportive. Those times that you cannot get to someone, you can always come in and learn about resources to get out of your head. [To] help learn the coping mechanisms to get through,” said Dawn.

Virginia Ranks 47th in the country for mental health care for children, according to Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program under the direction of Dr. Bethany Geldmaker with the Virginia Department of Health.

“It’s not acceptable,” said Dawn passionately.

PREVIOUS: Managing mental health during the holidays

After seeing how much creative arts and expression has helped Faith. The goal is to provide free art classes for one year, which will cost about $75,000. The run walk raised about $11,000

“I’m way better than I was a few years ago. I [can] do more things,” said a 13-year-old surrounded by her dance group and family. “It’s really nice of them to come out and do this for us. I enjoy them being here and like getting to spend more time with them.”

The team of mental health awareness advocates will reveal the ‘Connecting the Community to Kick anxiety with creativity’ display during the May Chesapeake city council meeting. Then the artwork will be on display inside of the Chesapeake City Hall.

“That will then be displayed as a big puzzle piece that will show how the community is coming together to raise awareness and acceptance for mental health,” said Dawn.

Learn more at odgcac.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.