‘There’s always help’: Local mental health advocacy group hosts awareness walk
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Families, friends and advocates laced up their shoes for Will’s Walk around Holmes Lake on Saturday.
Where There’s a Will Foundation hosted the event to spread awareness about mental health.
“This was Will’s favorite place to come,” said Chad Duval, the father of William Duval. “He came here all of the time with his friends and they would walk, and walk, and walk around the park. For us, it was just a perfect setting to be able to come here at Holmes Lake Park, bring people out to enjoy the weather and have a little piece of what he enjoyed about this place.”
The Duval family started the foundation in honor of their son, William Duval.
William took his own life in 2023 after struggling with his mental health and PANS disorder.
His father, Chad Duval, said the walk is inspired by how big his heart was.
“We want to carry on his values, he said. “He was very thoughtful and was very worried about other people and their mental health.”
The Duval family hopes by bringing the community together, others will feel empowered to start the conversation about mental health and break the stigma that surrounds it.
“This is just a gathering to make everybody more comfortable talking about it, and that it’s ok,” Duval said. “There are people in the same boat, we all know somebody or have problems and there’s always help. it doesn’t have to end like it did for my son.”
The foundation also helps to advocate for those struggling with PANS or PANDAS disorders.
Both are medical conditions that can cause sudden behavioral and mental health changes in young children.
For Zoey and Belle, who both live with PANS, taking the walk is especially important for them.
“Our PANS/PANDAS community is coming together and it’s just nice to be with other people who have PANS,” Belle said.
“And being around people that understand and show all of the people who do care and support us,” Zoey added..
The foundation has been working with state senators to bring more PANS and mental health resources to families.
