Rise up for Regina

Mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and substance use are on the rise, yet access to quality care remains limited. At Sanctuary House, we meet this need every day by helping adults living with mental illness find stability, support, and purpose so they can live meaningful lives in our community.

We are honored once again to share #RiseUpForRegina, an annual fundraiser led by Sanctuary House board member Dr. Christina Rama. Since 2015, Dr. Rama has organized this campaign in memory of her sister, Regina. Together with generous supporters like you, more than $212,000 has been raised to date.

This is Regina. At 16, she was vibrant, full of laughter, promise and dreams. Soon after, a mental health crisis changed the course of her life. The photo on the right was taken on her 42nd birthday, just weeks before she died. The 25 years between these two pictures tell a profound story of struggle, but also of strength, love, and perseverance.

When I moved to North Carolina for medical residency, Regina came with me. Through Sanctuary House she found friends, a sense of belonging and even a job. Knowing she was safe gave me peace of mind to complete my residency. Later she moved into a group home and we believed the hardest part was behind us.

Then her home closed without warning. Sanctuary House did not yet have permanent supportive housing, so she was sent to a program with little structure or oversight. Reginas health declined quickly. She was hospitalized, released and weeks later she died. Evidence suggests she may not have been receiving her medication, which may have led to a fatal seizure.

Her death was preventable. Her life mattered, just as every life like hers matters.

Sanctuary House gave Regina some of her most stable and joyful years. By supporting #RiseUpForRegina, you honor her memory and help others find the safety, support and purpose they deserve.

Through this campaign, Dr. Rama channels her love for her sister into action by raising awareness of systemic failures in mental health care, while helping build a foundation of hope for others.

This year’s goal is $50,000. Every contribution brings us closer to launching a $500,000 endowment for Sanctuary House. Endowments are critical for nonprofits: they create long-term stability, ensure sustainability, and give organizations the resources to grow and adapt to rising needs.

By supporting #RiseUpForRegina, you honor Regina’s memory and help ensure that adults living with mental illness continue to receive the safety, support, and purpose they deserve.

We invite you to join Dr. Rama and the Sanctuary House community in this powerful campaign. Together, we can transform loss into lasting change, and ensure that stories like Regina’s are met with stability, dignity, and hope.