YWCA New Britain has a long history of helping people who have been victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. For Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, YWCA New Britain’s Sexual Assault Crisis Services (SACS) hopes to raise public awareness about the pervasiveness of sexual assault and all types of violence that affect victims and their families every day. By raising this awareness, we hope to break the silence and end the violence.

YWCA SACS has partnered with Central Connecticut State University and the Hartford Marathon Foundation to host an event entitled ENOUGH! A Race to End Violence. The event will consist of a 5K race followed by an awards ceremony, and ending with our guest speaker. During registration and after the race there will be tables set up from local resources as well as food and a chance to participate in our clothesline project (www.clotheslineproject.org). All are encouraged to join together at the end of the race to help spread the message that violence is not acceptable.

This year we are pleased to announce that our guest speaker will be Beth Holloway, mother of Natalee Holloway the high school senior who was abducted on her graduation trip in Aruba in 2005. Since that tragic event, Beth has delivered her message of hope, faith and personal safety to young adults and people of all ages all across the United States and we are excited to have her with us.

The proceeds from the event will allow SACS to continue to provide comfort and counseling to individuals affected by sexual assault and abuse in 46 towns within Hartford, part of Tolland County, and Plymouth.

SACS’s mission is to eliminate sexual violence in our community through crisis intervention, prevention education, and public policy advocacy. Advocates and volunteers answer hotline calls, work with law enforcement, accompany survivors at local emergency rooms and speak to community groups to ensure that victims’ voices are heard.