Advocate Stories, Freedom from Violence, Special Events
WREN: #WhyWeWalk
by WREN Staff on Mar 3, 2017
We’ve all heard the phrase “if only you were in my shoes.” And now, the Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands (STSM) is bringing those words to life.
The “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” fundraising walk encourages the community to get involved in the fight against sexual violence and raises awareness about the local services STSM provides for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Participants are encouraged to fundraise for STSM and participate in the walk, which lasts a mile, among fellow participants and survivors of sexual assault. More than 2,000 supporters participated in last year’s event.
The women of WREN are ready to walk on April 6th and have formed a team to participate in this year’s event. WREN supports survivors of sexual assault, STSM’s community involvement, and policies that support a healthy and safe environment for all South Carolinians.
Here’s #WhyWeWalk:
“I am walking with my family because sexual violence pervades and poisons our society. By walking, we demonstrate that sexual assault is unacceptable, and we demonstrate that survivors have our unwavering support. I am also walking to support Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands and the incredibly important service they provide in our community.”- Ann Warner, Chief Executive Officer
“I choose to walk to support Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands because of the invaluable work they do supporting survivors of sexual assault and abuse, as well as educating the community.”–Melissa Davis, Policy & Media Associate
“I am choosing to walk because sexual violence is a battle that has been going on for far too long. The rates at which women are being sexually assaulted in South Carolina is far too high, and Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands provides the necessary programs, resources, and solutions these women need. I walk for all my friends and loved ones that are survivors and share their stories to those without a voice. I walk to educate others in our amazing state about the ongoing issues and how they can combat the statistics.”- Betty Lavandero, Communications Intern
“I’m choosing to walk because every dollar matters in the battle to provide resources and programs that support victims of sexual assault. Walking with the community is an empowering way to build visibility and conversation around an issue that can be hard to talk about. It’s important that we build spaces where victims and allies can engage in dialect about an issue that can no longer be ignored in South Carolina.” – Megan Plassmeyer, Community Engagement Coordinator
“I chose to walk because I trust survivors and consider sexualized violence an epidemic. Every 2 minutes someone in America is raped and 1 in 6 women are victims of sexual assault. I want to work towards making affirmative consent the norm and live in a world where individuals are in full control of their bodies.”- Ashley Crary Lidow, Associate Director of Policy & Government Relations
“Everyone has the right to safety. Sadly, this isn’t the reality for many in our state. According to the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA), nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men report being raped during their lifetime and 45.9% of South Carolina women and 17.8% of men in our state report being the victims of sexual violence or coercion other than rape. By joining survivors of sexual assault and allies at Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, we take the first step in showing support for victims and the invaluable (and no-cost!) support of Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands.”- Eme Crawford, Director of Communications & Learning