Walk a Mile in Her Shoes this Thursday for domestic abuse awareness

Registration is here for the event which goes at 11 a.m. Sept. 15 in the Westerner Park northwest parking lot. In-person registration is at 10.

Have conversations about domestic violence, urges Ian Wheeliker, the centre’s executive director, as that is one key to stopping said violence from occurring.

“For years, federal statistics have shown that for women 16 and older who are in a common-law or marriage-like relationship, close to 25 per cent of them will experience one, multiple or all types of abuse, including verbal, emotional, physical and sexual,” says Wheeliker.

“That is a staggering prevalence.”

Wheeliker says whether you are or aren’t partaking in Walk a Mile this Thursday, take some time to reflect upon the commonness of domestic abuse.

“Even if our relationships have no violence, we must ask how can we raise awareness and support those who are experiencing violence. We want the community to know there are people in this city specially trained to help with these situations,” he says.

“It’s a lot like any medical problem or community problem like crime, in the sense that until it happens to you or immediate family, you tend not to think of these things. Once a family member becomes ill of a disease, for example, or is robbed, you become very aware of that issue. Domestic violence works the same way.”

Check in on your friends, watch for red flags and be aware of how common it is, he adds.

“If someone needs help, you or they can contact The Outreach Centre and we will connect you to where you need to go.”

To register or donate to the cause, visit theoutreachcentre.org.

*106.7 REWIND Radio, which like rdnewsNOW is owned by Pattison Media, is a media sponsor of this event

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes this Thursday for domestic abuse awareness

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