CHESAPEAKE, Va. - More than 130 runners and walkers gathered at Chesapeake's Oak Grove Lake Park on Sunday morning in support of children battling anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles.
The 2nd Gnome One Walks Alone 5k run/walk had five times as many registered as the previous year, according to organizer Dawn Leonard.
Leonard and her daughter, Faith Leonard, 13, founded Our Daily Gnome Creative Arts Center in Chesapeake in 2022. The nonprofit aims to help children channel their creativity through various art projects in an effort to manage anxiety, depression and more.
Faith's own battle with anxiety inspired the idea for the organization, which is located on Battlefield Boulevard.
“I wanted to so something like where you don’t have to walk alone and you have people supporting you throughout something and I had the idea of running because this is a beautiful spot," Faith told News 3 on Sunday of her idea to start the run/walk.
Mental Health America ranks Virginia 48th among states in child mental health, and, with Mental Health Awareness Month beginning Wednesday, Dawn says it's an issue directly impacting local communities.
“We have two this past week that we know personally who have committed suicide, so it’s there. It’s from anxiety and depression. 25 percent of children in Hampton Roads have been diagnosed and that’s just who can get in," said Dawn.
The Leonards are doing what they can to help. Dawn said Sunday's event raised around $11,000 for Our Daily Gnome.
“The money raised today will go to the programs to help the 58 children that we serve now on a weekly basis, but also to help the over 5,000 children that we’ve helped since the beginning," she told News 3.
Click HERE for more information about Our Daily Gnome Creative Arts Center.
