By Mary Lou Lowry

On May 1, NAMI members, Mary Lou Lowry and husband L. Alan Lowry will head out from Glen Ellyn, IL, biking over 1100 miles to Washington DC to raise funds for the North/Northwest Suburban Task Force on Supported Housing. The retirees will be joined by 29 year old Task Force volunteer Nate Maier and NAMI member. This will be Mary Lou and Alan’s longest contiguous ride to date.

The goal of the 24-day trip along the American Discovery Trail is to raise $100,000 to build permanent supportive housing for people living with serious mental illness in the North/ Northwest Suburbs. The North/Northwest suburbs of Chicago are “appallingly” underserved, according to the Task Force.

Area consumers of mental health services must seek housing and treatment in Chicago or even farther away, cut off from family and support crucial to recovery. Some live with aging parents who may be ill-equipped as medical caregivers or caseworkers. Still others are forced into nursing homes, onto the streets, or even into jail. For more information about The Task Force, visit www.housingtaskforce.org.