The Katie Foundation 5Kate Run/Walk

Raising Awareness for Mental Health

Mental health tends to be a part of our lives that we either hide or abhor in conversation because of our lack of understanding. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2019 an estimated 51.5 million adults 18 or older have a prevalence of Any Mental Illness (AMI). That represents a little more than 1 in 5 adults in the USA. Raising awareness for mental illness is important to us at Toyota of Scranton. We humbly support The Katie Foundation and everything that Ed Shoener has done in memory of his daughter Katie.

Who is Kathleen Marie Shoener

Kathleen, or Katie, was a brilliant young woman from Scranton, Pennsylvania. With a dream of attending New York University, Katie worked hard in school. She pushed herself to graduate second in her class despite battling bipolar disorder. Her life became a cycle of stabilization and progress to medication, therapy, and hospital stays.

Katie was a vibrant person full of love in a way that made everyone love being in her presence. Despite this, she had a long, hard battle within herself because of her bipolar disorder. The disorder made her feel unloved and like everyone hated her. She was constantly judging and criticizing herself causing an internal struggle that caused Katie to take her own life at the age of 29 in August of 2016.

The Katie Foundation 5Kate Run/Walk

The Katie Foundation worked alongside the National Alliance on Mental Illness to plan and host the sixth annual 5Kate that took place on October 30, 2021. The common goals shared by both organizations allow them to work together to educate and create awareness for those in need of support through their struggles with mental illness.

The 2021 5Kate took place on October 30th because it fell close to Katie’s birthday on Halloween. Halloween was always a big deal in the Shoener house, so the 5Kate was Halloween-themed with everyone dressed up and running in costumes.

Katie’s sister-in-law, Sarah Shoener, said they wanted to, “Emphasize that you can dress up and wear a mask but people with mental illness feel like they need to put a mask on every day so it’s like- wear a costume today but don’t mask mental illness.”

Katie’s Touching Obituary

Hours after his only daughter’s death, Ed Shoener sat down to write her obituary, feeling like it was one way he could still take care of his beautiful daughter. Katie’s father hoped the obituary and similar speech he gave at her funeral, would provide comfort to the many people who approached him expressing appreciation for his honesty about what Katie went through.

In Katie’s obituary, her father went on to say, “Someday a cure will be found, but until then, we need to support and be compassionate to those with mental illness, every bit as much as we support those who suffer from cancer, heart disease or any other illness. Please know that Katie was a sweet, wonderful person that loved life, the people around her – and Jesus Christ”.