She turned unimaginable loss into a race that’s changing lives on Long Island

For Erin Mascaro, the annual Sounds of Silence Run is more than a race through the streets of Brightwaters.

It’s a tribute to her sisters. A call for connection. And a reminder that sometimes the most important question someone can ask is simply: “Are you okay?”

Mascaro, 43, founder of the SOS Awareness Foundation Inc. and a Brightwaters resident, has spent nearly two decades helping families navigate mental health struggles while advocating to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Now, the organization’s annual Sounds of Silence Run returns to Brightwaters on May 16, inviting Long Islanders to “lace up your sneakers and run to break the silence on mental illness and inspire hope together.”

The event includes a 5K run/walk and 10K run winding through the village’s lakes and concourse, where students, families and volunteers cheer on participants while holding inspirational signs along the route.

“While you’re running, you’re seeing these inspirational banners placed along our course, and then you’re seeing groups of students and individuals cheering on your story that we silently hold while we’re on the 5K, 10K,” Mascaro told Greater Long Island. “It’s a feel-good day, and hopefully my goal is if we reach one person, one person to save a life, it is worth all of the planning and everything that goes into that day.”

The organization’s roots trace back nearly 20 years, when Mascaro’s sister, Lisa Reilly, experienced perinatal and postpartum depression at a time when few people openly discussed mental health struggles.

“Back then, nobody spoke about it,” said Mascaro. Getting corporate sponsors was really hard. It was a dirty little word to say.”

Mascaro and her family partnered with the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, helping grow awareness efforts and fundraising initiatives through the annual run.

Then tragedy struck.

After battling cancer and entering remission, Reilly experienced worsening mental health struggles and deep depression. She died in 2014 after struggling with depression.

Years later, Mascaro lost another sister, Susanne Antolini, in 2018.

“I lost my sister, my best friend. She literally was my everything,” Mascaro said. “We took grief and loss and made it into purpose.”

Rather than walk away, Mascaro expanded the mission.

Mascaro formally launched the SOS Awareness Foundation Inc. to broaden the organization’s outreach beyond postpartum depression and focus on mental health advocacy for people of all ages, especially young people.

“We really want to start growing programs and trainings and see how we can really meet community leaders within their own little neighborhoods and groups on how do you break the silence and connect people to vital resources and help,” she said.

The foundation now supports mental health awareness initiatives, scholarships for student advocates and future mental health professionals, nonprofit organizations and community education programs promoting wellness and self-care.

Last year’s event raised more than $50,000 in net proceeds benefiting organizations including the YMCA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, while supporting expanded mental health outreach efforts. From 2008 through 2024, Sounds of Silence events raised more than $600,000 for the Postpartum Resource Center of New York.

Mascaro, who teaches business education at Commack High School, said students have become a major part of the movement, with roughly 100 student volunteers expected to help at this year’s race.

“The volunteer support from Commack, Bay Shore, Brightwaters, West Islip is unbelievable,” she said.

Among the most meaningful moments for Mascaro are the messages she receives from people who sought help because of the organization’s work.

“The greatest reward … is when one of our board members or volunteers gets an email or call and says, ‘I reached out for help, thank you,’” she said. “Or, ‘I asked the question to somebody who was struggling, and they were so elated to see that they were seen.’ That’s why we do what we do.”

This year’s Sounds of Silence Run takes place May 16 in Brightwaters.

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