The Women’s Center of Tarrant County will host its 27th Annual Victory Over Violence Walk/Run on Saturday (April 18) at the Trinity Park Duck Pond in Fort Worth.
The event provides vital funding for The Women’s Center’s anti-violence programs, including free crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, legal assistance, and education. Deborah Ferguson, morning anchor at NBC DFW will be the race emcee and participants will be cheered on by the Dallas Mavericks’ Mavs ManiAACs.
A 1K Fun Run will begin at 8 a.m. and the 5K Walk/Run will get underway at 8:30 a.m.
The Victory Over Violence Walk/Run has become a way to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM), raising awareness about the impact of sexual violence and supporting the Women Center’s Rape Crisis & Victim Services Program, the center said in a news release.
This year’s SAAPM theme, “Building Connected Communities,” is exemplified by the collaborative approach the center takes in creating a safer, more resilient trauma-informed community in partnership with local organizations, the release said.
One such partnership with JPS Health Network spans decades and has changed the way survivors are treated at local hospitals in Tarrant County.
Having a JPS team participate in the Victory Over Violence Walk/Run is an important way to highlight the continuing partnership between two organizations focused on providing compassionate care to survivors of sexual violence, said Connie Housley, Manager of Forensic Nursing Services at JPS Health Network.
“The race has become something that our team really looks forward to participating in over the years,” Housley said. “It’s a chance not only to support victims and victim services, but it has also allowed us to bond outside of work. With the stressful work we do, it’s so important to promote collaboration while aligning it to a good cause.”
More information about Saturday’s event and the Women’s Center of Tarrant County is available online.
