UPDATE 12/30/2024: Through various channels we have raised apx. $7,000 directly for the organizations I am walking for (mentioned on this page). If the Givebutter platform doesn't work for you, for example if you have a 501(c)(3) that must follow protocol and donate through a specific channel like an official check or wire, please don't hesitate to reach out. There are numerous ways we can accommodate your contribution.

#WOODYWALKS

333 of 2,000 miles walked so far for...

the 49,300 suicide deaths reported in 2023,

the nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's Disease,

and the 1 in 100 people in the United States that are affected by schizophrenia and related psychosis disorders.

My name is Woody Ellis. I have spent almost 10 years solo traveling (and walking) all over the world in 30 countries, but I always feel guilty for leaving ailing loved ones behind. Now I'm walking 2,000 miles (and sometimes cold plunging) in and around various towns and cities all over the US to raise awareness and funding for mental health causes and to battle the stigma surrounding mental illness. I've hiked 333 miles and jumped in one 42° lake so far for these wonderful organizations:

$45M awarded to nearly 300 researchers
29 active research projects
85% of awardees have gone on to secure NIH and other national funding

$461M and 6,700 grants awarded to more than 5,600 leading scientists around the world
Nation’s top non-governmental funder of mental health research grants
BBRF Grant recipients have gone on to receive $4 billion in additional research funding in next stage NIMH and NIH grants

Nearly $214M funded to 894 grants to date
Dedicated to funding research with the highest probability of prevention, slowing or reversing the disease

Funds and participates in the National Institutes of Health’s Accelerating Medicines Partnership-Schizophrenia (AMP-SCZ) Steering Committee. AMP-SCZ is working to improve schizophrenia treatments and treatment outcomes by identifying early indicators of the severe brain disease
Funds and participates in the Biomarkers Consortium, led by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Their mission is to create and lead cross-sector efforts that validate and qualify biomarkers and other drug development tools to accelerate better decision making for the development of new therapeutics and health technologies

I encourage you to please do your due diligence on these organizations if you'd like, but just as a friendly reminder, your donations must go through this page if you'd like them to count toward the tally for the total amount raised by the #woodywalks project.

Where do your donations go?

50% of everything collected will be split evenly among the 4 organizations, and the other 50% will go toward the operating costs of sustaining this project in general. I choose to walk for these organizations not only because they are helping with causes that have directly affected my family and inner circle, but also because they have the highest ratings on Charity Navigator, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that shines a light on the cost-effectiveness and overall health of a charity’s programs, including measures of stability, efficiency, sustainability, and financial transparency. In addition, these 4 orgs specifically focus on putting resources toward grants for scientists that are researching and developing treatments and cures.

Why am I doing this?

These causes do not get the attention they deserve, and the people struggling with these illnesses don't feel comfortable and safe talking about them.

I can't do this by myself. I'm going to need your help to raise awareness and spread the message. The more people we can reach the more we can help.

By donating you will help people to get help. You will help scientists discover and develop cures. You will help spread joy and happiness. You will help me sustain while on the journey.

Help me to help them. Together we can.

UPDATE:

I have also organized 2 community hikes so far in Munising, MI and Marquette, MI. In Marquette we had 15-20 people walk with us and some of us cold plunged into 42° Lake Superior! We also had Ore Dock Brewing Co. and Drifa Brewing Company sponsor the event and host welcoming parties that the mayor joined us at! Now we are organizing a much larger one in Lansing. I am challenging the city to come up with at least 100 people to hike around town with me on Saturday Jan 4th. The hashtag that I created for this is #woodywalks and I strongly encourage everyone to share it and help make it go viral and see if we can get my hometown to stand up for the cause with me! We will aim for bigger and bigger community walks in each city...

Community walk in Lansing page: https://givebutter.com/woodywalksinlansing

#WOODYWALKS (and sometimes cold plunges)

By #WOODYWALKS

#WOODYWALKS (and sometimes cold plunges)

Walking 2,000 miles for mental health awareness and researching cures!