By: Annette Meza
Liberal – One in five Americans will experience a mental health disorder in a given year and 1 in 2 transgender people are victims of sexual violence. This is why both Jammie Ingram, owner of Sign Express, and LARC DVS, the sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking crisis center in Liberal, are working together to bring awareness to mental health in the community.
The third annual “Be Aware” Mental Health, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence walk/run will be brought into focus June 10.
LARC DVS has partnered with Ingram, since 2021. They’ve come together since then to bring light to the mental health movement. Ingram initiated the walks and shared her motivations.
“My youngest, Ariana, also known as Jayson Jones, was transgender, and committed suicide at the age of 26. I decided I wanted to try to do something to bring awareness to both causes,” Ingram said.
Ingram mentioned one of her goals with this organized walk would be to donate all funds to LARC DVS, a safe space she knows Ariana found in Liberal, to receive services.
“She had been a victim of domestic violence and sexual assault, so we decided to tie that all together for this walk,” Ingram said. “I know LARC does a great job of helping any individual regardless of labels, so that’s why I chose LARC DVS.”
Donated funds would help LARC DVS further their success in guiding and helping current and new clients through their healing journey.
LARC DVS offers various services to those who have survived sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, or are in the process of healing and moving on from their situation. These include but are not limited to individual counseling, therapy, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transportation, safety planning, protection orders from abuse and stalking, legal advocacy and referring to other organizations if needed.
To help support LARC DVS and Ingrams’ goals, join them for the race June 10.
The race will start at 10:30 a.m, and check in for the race is at 9:30 a.m. The race will be followed by lunch and awards. To register, contact Jammie Ingram at (860)440-3792 or LARC DVS at (620)624-2774, or you can register online as well at ktwi.org. Registration is $30 and includes lunch and a free T-shirt.
Businesses will also be able to sponsor this event. Ingram said sponsors will not get their own banner, but their name will be put on one singular sponsor banner. The sponsorship levels include green for $400, which includes a logo of the business on the banner and the back of the T-shirts sold to participants, four meal tickets and four T-shirts, turquoise for $300 which includes the business name on the banner and the back of the T-shirts, two T-shirts, two meal tickets, and purple for $200 which includes the business name on the banner. Any questions about sponsorships can be answered by Ingram.
