1,000 Men and Women to “Walk for Change” in Support of Sexual Assault Awareness on April 5th

Cambridge, MA - The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is expecting 1,000 men and women to participate in its 4th Annual Walk for Change on Sunday, April 5. Survivors, friends, families, community members and local agencies will walk to increase community awareness and involvement in preventing sexual violence and to raise much-needed funds for BARCC. The goal for the 2009 Walk is $100,000.

Proceeds from the Walk for Change will support BARCC, the only provider of comprehensive rape crisis services in the greater Boston area. Services include a 24-hour hotline, 24-hour ER accompaniment, counseling, legal assistance and community awareness and prevention programs. In the last year alone, BARCC helped over 4,000 survivors and another 10,000 people through prevention education, training and outreach.

Many Boston area colleges are busy forming teams! Including MIT, Lasell, Harvard, Boston College, Tufts and Northeastern. Support from community organizations has also been impressive-with both the Boston and Cambridge Women’s Commissions participating, Boston NOW, HarborCOV, Transit Police, Boston Police and the DA’s office.

Meg, a dedicated Medical Advocacy volunteer, says “It’s been nothing less than an honor that the people I have met in our hospitals have welcomed me into their lives in the moment of crisis. At the Walk for Change, I want to honor them in return and do my part to ensure that the free services BARCC offers are not discontinued do to budget cutbacks.”

Sarah, a survivor of sexual assault and abuse, says “I am walking for change. I am walking for the one out of four women and one out of six men who will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. I am walking for my friends who have supported me through my recovery and healing process. I am walking for men and women who are too afraid or ashamed to break their own silence. I am walking to remind myself and my fellow survivors that there is hope. There is hope for change.”

So, grab your sneakers and join the crowd that is making a difference! Every step we take is one closer to living in a world without sexual violence. We hope to see you on April 5th!

Walk Details: 5K Walk for Change
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 10 am registration begins 11am walk begins
Place: Canal Park at the CambridgeSide Galleria
Cost: Adults: $20 to pre-register/$30 day of; Youth under 12: $10/15; Pets: $5
(Groups of 20 or more, please contact us for group rates)
Website: www.barcc.org or www.firstgiving.com/barcc