LI Teen's Family Plan 5K To Raise Awareness About Mental Illness

PATCHOGUE, NY — After Ellyana DeLaTorre died unexpectedly last summer, her family wanted her to be remembered, so they formed a non-profit foundation to honor her legacy by helping others who struggle with mental health issues.

The Elly CARES Project, Inc., which was started with fundraising efforts on GoFundMe, has plans to hold the first "Stomp the Stigma 5K" memorial walk/run at Shorefront Park in Patchogue on May 28. The event kicks off at 9 a.m.

DeLaTorre's mother, Eileen of Patchogue, said her family is thankful that they have been approved for their first fundraising event.

"May is Mental Health Awareness month so this will be a great time for the community to show support for those struggling with mental illness and to help reduce the stigma that surrounds it," she added.

DeLaTorre's 18-year-old daughter was an empathetic person who soaked up others' emotions like a sponge. She helped friends through some very difficult times and often carried the burden of their troubles in silence, as she struggled with her own mental health.

After Ellyana was found dead in her sleep on Aug. 5, DeLaTorre, as well as her husband, Ozzy, and younger brother, Jevani, were left to grieve her loss, but as they did, they devised a way that her legacy of caring and compassion would continue on in mental health advocacy, a topic that so many people do not know enough about.

She was an amazing athlete and was considered high-functioning on the autism spectrum, but sometimes her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder would make it difficult for the Patchogue-Medford graduate to get through the day.

"Even though that she dealt with all of this, she was never ashamed of it," DeLaTorre told Patch back in August. "I think she just didn't want to bring the attention to herself because she was always trying to help everybody else."

"She just kind of soaked up everyone's problems, so aside from what she was suffering from, she carried everyone else's as well, so she just ... she helped so many people in the community," DeLaTorre added.

Her family has set up a memorial scholarship fund for the Patchogue-Medford School District, and they also have plans to organize events to "raise community awareness for those living with mental health challenges, and foster community involvement to help those who are less fortunate," DeLaTorre said.

To register for the 2022 Stomp the Stigma 5K Race/Run, click here. For more information about the DeLaTorres' non-profit, visit www.ellyCARESproject.org.