One Million Steps for OCD Walk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2023
Contact: info@ocdcsfl.org

Orlando, FL - The International OCD Foundation and OCD Central & South Florida will host the 2023 One Million Steps for OCD Walk on Sunday, October 22nd at 8am at Blue Jacket Park in Orlando. 

The One Million Steps for OCD Walk is a community engagement event that allows individuals across the country to connect, share stories, create impact, and show those struggling on their road to recovery that they are not alone. The OCD Walk is an opportunity to raise funds and awareness of what it really means to have OCD.

Dr. Gwilym Roddick, a board member of OCD Central & South FL and Founder & Director of CBT Central & South Florida stated, “OCD impacts around 1 in every 100 people directly and that many more family members and loved ones, yet it can take years for patients to receive a proper diagnosis, let alone the evidence-based treatment they need. It doesn’t have to be this way. The One Million Steps for OCD Walk is a chance for providers, people living with OCD, and the community to join forces, end stigma, and raise the standards on mental health care access.”

Interested individuals can sign up as an individual walker, join a team, or start their own fundraising team. The event is free to attend and all donations benefit those impacted by OCD and related disorders, from funding increased access to resources and care, to public education to reduce stigma.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health disorder, marked by Obsessions (i.e., unwanted thoughts, images or impulses) and Compulsions (i.e., excessive, repetitive behaviors or mental acts) that cause marked anxiety and distress. Approximately 1% of individuals have OCD. Despite the prevalence of effective treatments for OCD, it takes an average of 14 – 17 years from the time OCD first appears for people to receive appropriate treatment. Accordingly, OCD is a major source of illness-related disability worldwide.

For any questions about the event, contact info@ocdcsfl.org.

Gwilym Roddick, DSW, LCSW