Meaningful Mileage

News | July 13th, 2016

By Ben Haugmo

Nate Perez, Patrick Taylor, and Alexander Vassiliadis are 41 days into a two-month jaunt across the 48 continental United States. While this may seem like the roadtrip of a lifetime, they aren’t merely traveling to see the sights. They have an important message to share.

All while piloting a car shaped like a chicken.

The Mental Illness Awareness tour is coming to Fargo next week, with the goal of spreading awareness and eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness. The three men involved in the tour will be sharing stories regarding their personal experiences with mental illness.

Each member of the tour is a student at the University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign, and the tour is endorsed by the Illinois chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

The tour seeks not only to end stigma towards mental illness, but also to inspire those impacted by mental illness to talk about it without fear. Nate Perez and his companions each know what it’s like to feel unable to speak up.

“We made this happen ourselves, and the three of us have experienced some form of mental health concern in the past. We wanted to try to make a difference in our country, because we found it so hard to share those stories, even with each other, for fear of judgment.”

Each speaker’s story has a different lesson to impart. “The general takeaway from my story,” said Perez, “is that I don't want anyone in my age group to feel like they are alone in the feeling that the parent-child role has switched.”

Angela Hartman is the president of NAMI in North Dakota, and has been in contact with the MIA tour to prepare for its stop in Fargo.“I believe the MIA Tour is important,” said Hartman, “because not only does the tour spread awareness on mental illness and the stigma around it, the personal stories that will be given by Nate, Alexander and Patrick will resonate with those that may be currently struggling and help in their recovery.”

The chicken car which the men are traveling in isn’t just for show. It serves an important purpose in their journey.“We use the Chicken Car to have people come up to us and start a conversation,” said Perez, “instead of us going to them and soliciting what we are doing. It also brings a smile and a light-hearted transition into a more powerful message.”

Merchandise will be on sale after the event. So far the tour has raised $14,500 of the estimated $15,000 required to make the trip, and any extra money raised will be donated to NAMI.

If you are looking to learn more about how to quell stigma, and to start a conversation about mental illness, consider listening in on the MIA Tour when it arrives in Fargo on Monday.

IF YOU GO

Mental Illness Awareness Tour

Prairie St. John’s, St. Genevieve’s Place, 390 6th Avenue S, Fargo

Monday, July 18, 7pm

http://miatour.wix.com/miatour2016

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