Compeer Rochester continues to advocate for mental wellness with its Compeer Mile event on November 3. The annual walk to end loneliness helps to support critical work that betters the lives of people in the Rochester community. The event is a low-stress stroll with stops along the way, where participants can warm up with some coffee and join in fun activities together.
Compeer Rochester aims to “make the world less lonely” by helping to form bonds between volunteer mentors and individuals who seek friendship and social connection, as well as provide formalized peer support and other behavioral health services to those in need.
Says Sara Passamonte, President and Executive Director of Compeer Rochester: “Most individuals crave connection with others, whether to enhance each other’s lives, or to lessen the load of hardships. For those experiencing a mental health challenge, social connectedness can be the key to longstanding recovery. Mentorship at Compeer is about showing up, being a friend, and helping others find their path. Loneliness isn’t just a feeling – it’s a public health concern. Through events like The Compeer Mile, we’re taking steps – literally and figuratively – to build a more connected Rochester community.”
November 3:
Walk With Compeer
This family-friendly event is not just a walk; it’s an opportunity to connect, support, and uplift those around us. As such, each stop along the walk route will encourage interaction and bonding with fellow walkers. Attendees are encouraged to motivate their friends to also register so they can walk together in support of this cause.
Festivities will kick off at Compeer Rochester’s building at Monroe Square and continue on to Dice Versa for indoor and outdoor games. The walk will end at the Strong Museum of Play, for those who purchase tickets with discounted museum admission, or Lila’s for refreshments and a cash bar. Other perks include mental wellness activities by St. John Fisher nursing students and a cookie stop sponsored by Rochester’s newest private event space, The Duke. More details will be available closer to the date of the event.
Each Compeer Mile registrant will also receive a complimentary Compeer Rochester t-shirt. To register to walk and learn more about the Compeer Mile, visit http://compeerrochester.org.
Become a Friend,
Make a Difference
With nearly 200 individuals waiting for a Compeer friend or mentor, Compeer Rochester invites community members to step up as mentors for both youth and adults. Loneliness affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether guiding a young person through their formative years or providing a steady presence for an adult who needs a friend, Compeer’s volunteers can have a life-changing impact.
Studies show that mentorship and friendship can significantly reduce feelings of isolation and improve mental wellbeing. By volunteering just four hours each month, mentors play a crucial role in combating loneliness and fostering mental wellness in the Rochester community. Very often, the benefits of these friendships are felt on both sides: participants feel less lonely, and volunteers get fulfillment from the connection as well.
Volunteers can sign up to become someone’s friend by visiting http://compeerrochester.org/become-a-volunteer.
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