The Walk-A-Thon on is on! Genesis House in Fowlerville hopes to have its most successful walkathon this May to raise money for the clubhouse...a clubhouse for Livingston Community Mental Health programs.

May is Mental Health Month, and on May 1 Genesis House members and staff kicked off the 8^th annual walkathon. That’s eight years of walking to promote mental health. Members are walking daily and charting their miles. Last year the walkers met their goal of 50 different walkers and 235 total miles. This year the clubhouse goal is 55 walkers who will cover 250 miles. The fundraising goal is $1200, to be used for clubhouse activities.

Clayton Klein has helped the clubhouse kick off their walkathon for the past few times. For a story of his talk and walk on my Michigan Country blog last year (2008) and my column for the News & Views about the 2007 walk, scroll down on  Sue’s blog list: Genesis House: Walking and Mental Health  at www.michigancountry.com

Klein is a former Fowlerville businessman and adventurer, also known nationally for his recent treks walking from Paradise in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula downstate to Hell and on to the Ohio border to benefit Michigan’s Hospice programs.

The clubhouse, under the auspices of Community Mental Health Services of Livingston County, seeks to help its members manage the symptoms of mental illness, while providing mutual support and transition into employment opportunities, along with establishing a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Genesis Clubhouse Director Lee Kellogg explains the clubhouse emphasis on walking and overall health in the May/June issue of The Genesis Journal, which you may read at their website:  www.genesisliv.org http://www.genesisliv.org/documents/GenesisJournal_20090304.pdf

Thanks to Lee and Lynn Wertman for the wonderful front page about the Walk-A-Thon and the articles about Clayton and me walking, as well as the wonderful article about the clubhouse emphasis on wellness of body, mind and spirit.

Since walking offers such great overall health benefits, the clubhouse began the annual walkathon. After the first couple of years, the clubhouse members began walking every day, not just during May. “What happens,” Kellogg told me last year, “is that people get used to walking.” Now they walk year-round.

The walkathon also helps focus on our collective wellness and the many tools we can use to help all of us create more balance in our daily lives.

 The community is welcome to join in the walks, from Genesis House uptown through Centennial Park and back. To join in the cause, or to make a contribution toward this year’s goal, there’s a form on the last page of the Genesis Journal. Or you may mail a check to Genesis House at the address below. A thank you letter will be sent, highlighting the walkathon progress, so please include your name and address.

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Genesis House address is 501 W. Grand Rive, Fowlerville, MI 48836. Contact Lee Kellogg, director, for more information at 517-223-1393. The clubhouse website is: www.genesisliv.org     Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Susan Parcheta may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it