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The Review March 15, 2016 LEARN AND LIVE

States of mind

Trio will travel the U.S. to break the silence surrounding mental illness

Hopes to raise $15,000 for national mental illness group

R

emember Patrick Taylor? Wait, let’s try again. Remember the Chicken Car? You know, the cheeky mustang that helped bring Mumford & Sons to Dixon? Yeah, I figured you’d remember that little beater. After the trip it’s about to undergo, you’ll remember Patrick Taylor – but that’s not why he’s doing it in the least. Taylor, a 2011 graduate of Dixon High School who will graduate from University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in May, will hit the road May 19. He’ll pick up two of his fellow resident assistants in Chicago, and they’ll drive to each and every one of the 48 contiguous United States to educate the masses on something very personal

to them, something that’s affected their lives profoundly: mental illness. I spent about an hour with Taylor in July 2014 – he even gave me a ride – but he didn’t mention his attempted suicide during high school. Of course he didn’t. He was a soccer player, a skater, a biker, a smart, sociable, active individual. What could have been wrong? During his senior year, he quit soccer. Motivation disappeared. “People tend to stay quiet when faced with a discourse on mental illness,� Taylor wrote in a news release for the Mental Illness Awareness Tour. “Help us break this silence.� The posse includes RAs Alexander Vassiliadis, who watched his mother suffer through psychosis,

christopher HEIMERMAN Heimerman is the Enterprise and Projects Editor at SVM. He can be reached at cheimerman@ saukvalley. com or 815-625-3600, ext. 5523.

social media accounts already reach 5,000 people, and the smart money says that number more than doubles by the time the boys come back home. OK, here goes. Whereas Taylor said he had zero understanding or perception of mental illness before he tried to kill himself – he said he’d never even contemplated suicide – it crossed my mind during high school. And college. I’ve battled

depression as long as I can remember. Thanks to a modest dose of medication, I’m right as rain today. Sure, I get down. I get anxious. But only to the degree that it can be managed. I’ve watched a lot of family and friends twist in the wind, most of them silently, aside from the occasional telltale sign that they’re hurting. It doesn’t need to be that way. All you have to do is speak up. To a friend. To

delusion and paranoia, and Nate Perez, who’s personally fought his own battles. The group has some hard-and-fast goals as they size up their 2-month adventure. Among them is to raise $15,000. Any proceeds beyond costs will go to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, and they have the Champaign chapter’s backing. They’ll be vlogging (video blogs), spreading the mobile gospel on social media, and even putting together a miniweb series. They’re also peddling MIA merchanMichael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com dise along the way, so Patrick Taylor, shown here in 2014 with his chicken we’ll have ample oppor- car, will join his friends as they take to the highways tunities to keep up with and byways of America to raise money for – and them. The Chicken Car’s awareness of – a topic that’s touched the trio in very personal ways: mental illness.

Alexander Vassiliadis

Nate Perez

a professional. Let someone know. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, it’s your turn. For the love of everyone you cherish, help us break the silence.

Get involved

Visit generosity.com and search for Mental Illness Awareness Tour to donate to the 48-state trek. Depending on the amount of the donation, merchandise will be sent to the contributor. Anyone who wants to volunteer or share their experience with mental illness should email mentalillnessawarenesstour@ gmail.com, or search for Mental Illness Awareness Tour on Facebook for more information.

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