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Stride for Sophia 5k Raises Mental Health Awareness

Written by Savannah Woodall on . Posted in Fundraising, Mental health, News, News & Events, pediatric mental health, Stories of Hope, suicide prevention.

A sea of pink poured into Arab City Park Saturday for the first Stride4Sophia 5K.  

The Aldridge family coordinated the race in honor of 15-year-old Sophia, who died following a battle with mental illness. Her favorite color—pink—was everywhere: on T-shirts, bracelets, and balloons. The event itself featured her favorite sport.  

Sophia had been a proud member of the Arab Knights cross country and track teams. 

“We had this race because Sophia loved running,” said Emilee Aldridge, Sophia’s mom. “It was her passion, and we wanted to celebrate and honor her, along with her running career. She got her sister to join her, and it was such a great time for our family to go to all those meets.” 

Besides her twin sister, Maddie, Sophia is survived by two little brothers, her mom, dad, grandparents, and too many other loved ones to mention.  

“We miss her so much,” added Emilee. “But I know she’s here with us today.”  

In all, more than 150 runners and walkers turned out, raising awareness—and more than $8,000—in honor of Sophia. 

Proceeds support the WellStone Emergency Services (WES) Pediatric Unit, the state’s only 24/7 crisis care center for youth. Emilee said she did not know the program existed when she was desperately trying to find help for her daughter.  

“We are so sorry for the Aldridge family’s heartbreaking loss,” said Jeremy Blair, WellStone CEO. “We are also thankful. Emilee’s courage and commitment to help other families in the wake of her own tragedy is truly inspiring.” 

WellStone opened the pediatric unit in fall 2024 with just four beds. Today, it has 16 beds and serves children ages 8 – 18.

“We need to support each other and let other people know what resources are here in our own communities,” said Emilee, who had taken her daughter to Decatur and Birmingham for care. “And to let families know they’re not alone.”  

They certainly aren’t alone. Last year, Alabama Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell announced that suicide had become the leading cause of death in Alabama for individuals aged 10 – 24. 

“I also wanted to get our community together,” Emilee said before the race. “I’m so grateful you are all here to support mental health. I hope we can leave here and continue talking about it. To each other. To our kids. Let them know it’s okay to have the feelings you have.” 

For more information on the Stride for Sophia, you can email stride4sophia@gmail.com. 

If you’d like to support the WES Pediatric Unit with a tax-deductible donation, you may do so here.  Please specify if the gift is in honor or in memory of a loved one. You may also recognize Sophia Aldridge in the tribute field.  

For more information on supporting mental health and/or addiction recovery support through WellStone, please contact karen.petersen@wellstone.com. For questions about our programs and services, visit WellStone.com or reach out to info@wellstone.com.  

EMDR Therapy Coming Soon to WellStone

Written by Savannah Woodall on . Posted in Fundraising, Mental health, News, Stories of Hope.

Thanks to a generous Diamond Impact grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama’s Caring Foundation, six WellStone team members have begun the journey to becoming certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. 

This funding helps cover the extensive training required for this specialized certification, allowing WellStone to bring a vital new module to our community-based services. 

Studies show that EMDR, an evidence-based modality, is extremely effective, particularly for those struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps the brain “reprocess” traumatic memories, so they no longer have a painful emotional connection.

“The training process was incredible,” said Brianna Faulkner, a youth outpatient therapist, who participated in the initial five-day training earlier this month. “It was intense and we had the opportunity to perform EMDR. It was amazing to see how EMDR helps people process their trauma in such an effective way.” 

This grant allows WellStone to build on our existing trauma work, such as the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) program for veterans and first responders.  

“We’ve already found great success in treating PTSD with veterans,” said Jeremy Blair, CEO. “This gives us another way of helping our clients overcome trauma that has been compromising their quality of life.” 

According to the National Center for PTSD, 6% of Americans will suffer from PTSD each year.   

Triggering events include—but are not limited to—military conflict, physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, car crashes, and community violence.  It affects adults and kids alike.  

“Trauma goes beyond singular, large-scale events,” Faulkner added. “Trauma can vary significantly based on an individual’s perception, developmental stage, and internal resources.” 

Brandon Heath, WellStone’s Cullman County Juvenile Court Liaison Therapist, is also looking forward to offering EMDR to clients.  

“The teenage clients I see are often in need of positive guidance after poor decision-making, but some have also experienced tough traumatic situations,” Heath said. “EMDR can be a useful new skill to assist clients through trauma healing processes.” 

 EMDR will be offered at select WellStone locations. Stay tuned for updates as our therapists move through the certification process.