Fearless 5K Run Brings Hope to Sex Abuse Survivors
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – APRIL 25, 2015 (GEPHARDT DAILY) – Hundreds gathered for the fearless 5K run/walk at Memory Grove this morning to show their support for sexual assault awareness here in Utah.
The event, sponsored by Megan Hoffman and Lauren Mickelson of Fearless Self Defense, kicked off at 9:30 a.m. at the start of the trail in Memory Grove and ended at the bottom of the trail with a set up where runners could gather to talk about awareness, meet vendors and listen to live music from the School of Rock.
Miss Utah USA, Nicol Powell, and Miss Teen Utah USA, Brooke Skabelund, both attended the event to hand out the awards for the top three runners in both the female and male categories. There were many others there in support of the cause and to help Utah come to realize the statistics here for sexual assault are nearly double the national average.
“As a nation, one in five women will be sexually assaulted where as in Utah it is one in three, that is why raising awareness and education is so important,” said Hoffman.
Others that attended agree there is more we can do to help end sexual violence and it is important to share our support. Carissa, Kaitlyn and Karly came together to help show their support and to show others that we can make a difference.
Carissa, who first heard about the event at Westminster College where she attends school said: “I am a survivor, and after hearing about the event during the take back the night event at Westminster where I go to school, I wanted to come and support other survivors.”
Kaitlyn says knows the statistics about college students being four times more likely to be sexually assaulted and agrees there needs to be more organizations and support to raise awareness and supporting the cause is one way to let others know how important it is. And Karly, who moved here from a small town in California appreciates Utah culture being more and more willing to talk about it. “No one ever talked about it where I am from and being a survivor myself, its was nice to come to Utah people are more willing to open up and show support.”
Fearless Self Defense is also sponsoring the Be Fearless Conference that will be held tonight with special guest speaker Elizabeth Smart at the SLCC Miller Campus in Sandy. For more information about the conference you can visit their facebook event page.
