News

Actions

"Survivors Rising" holds inaugural walk to raise money, awareness for domestic violence

Posted
and last updated

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  One local non-profit has only been around a few months, but they are already gaining momentum in the fight against intimate partner abuse.  Saturday they held their first 5K.

Angie Rodriguez lost her daughter Melissa Rodriguez to domestic violence three years ago.  Now she works with Survivors Rising, a non-profit connecting victims with programs that can help them get out of abusive relationships.

“My daughter always wanted to help people, and I feel that being a part of this and bringing awareness to what she went through as a teen, that she can be a part of helping others,” said Rodriguez.

All the members of Survivors Rising have, in some way, been affected by domestic violence.   They say that shared experience gives them an advantage.

“The fact that we’ve all been through this, we all know exactly where these women are coming from, we know their pain, we know their fear… it makes people a little bit more comfortable to come to and say that we need help,” said Elizabeth Jones, Vice President of Marketing.

Survivors Rising is still fairly new, but this inaugural walk really helped them hit their stride.

“The doors have been opening, and the momentum that we’ve been on, we decided you know what, we’re gonna have a walk,” said Rodriguez.

Proceeds from the walk will help the group sponsor programs and hold future events.

“There’s just huge things planned for Survivors Rising, but right now just to get the awareness...”

Melissa’s sister Mikaela Rodriguez also volunteered at the event.  She hopes that getting the word out will help other victims know they aren’t alone before it is too late.

“That’s the number one thing is that nobody is alone in this and there’s always someone else going through it,” said Mikaela.

“People don’t’ try to get out because number one, they’re not educated on the places that there are to help them.  And number two because they’re safest until they try to leave, and when they try to leave that’s when the real danger happens,” said Jones.

Survivors Rising has a number of resources for anyone trying to leave an abusive relationship.  They also are sponsoring a retreat in November.  You can learn more about their programs and events by going to their website, survivorsrising.orgor by liking them on Facebook.