Registration is open to join Women in Distress as they raise funds to end domestic violence at the 17th annual Safewalk-run 5K on Feb. 27 at NSU’s Fort Lauderdale-Davie campus.
Registration for the race/walk will be open until the day of the event. Participants can register at the event from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. From 8:30 a.m. until 9 a.m., when the timed 5K race begins, Women in Distress will have a warm-up program, which includes a welcome message from the center’s CEO and a 10-minute Zumba dance. The race, which is 3.1 miles, will start and finish between the Alvin Sherman Library and the Don Taft University Center.
According to Mary Helen Olejnick, manager of the event, Women in Distress is the only state- and nationally-certified domestic violence center and is the biggest domestic violence center in South Florida. It provides, in addition to shelter services, professional therapy for adults and children, and it has an innovative early childhood therapy program for infants and children up to 4 years old.
Olejnick said that not only will the event’s proceeds go toward funding the services Women in Distress provides, but they will also be used to raise awareness in the community about domestic violence.
“That’s why it’s great to have [the race] at NSU, our host sponsor,” said Olejnick. “It is so important to us because college students are the biggest age demographic that this problem affects.”
Women in Distress hopes to raise $150,000 through the 5K to help break the cycle of violence in abusive relationships, Olejnick said.
“We’re a bit under that, so we’re looking to get more folks out there, but whatever we raise goes to providing these services,” she said.
Olejnick said anyone who’s a serious racer can sign up to participate in the 5K. Women in Distress encourages those who sign up for the 5K to raise at least $200; however, fundraising is not mandatory.
“But it’s also fun to have competition amongst the teams, and we have teams that participate every year and get very competitive,” Olejnick said. “It’s a fun way to be competitive for a good cause.”
Olejnick said Safewalk-run 5K is also a chance for attendees to show support for survivors as they celebrate a violence-free life.
“Our survivors come to participate, and they’re often lined up along the route cheering everybody on because, for a lot of them, this is the first time they’re out in public as a survivor, where their safety is not an issue and where they can celebrate the steps that they took to lead a violence-free life with their family,” she said.
The registration fee for the 5K is $25 for those 18 and older, $15 for children 6 to 17 years old, and free for children 5 and younger. Registrants will receive a T-shirt and breakfast.
There will also be a dog walk for an additional $10. Olejnick said the proceeds from the dog walk will go to providing services to survivors and making sure their dogs are safe through Women in Distress’ partnership with the Humane Society.
“Seventy percent of surveyed victims said they wouldn’t leave their abuser because of the family pet, which is often used as a means of control,” said Olejnick. “If the person has a family pet, we’ll provide bedding and boarding services for the dog until the victim finds a safe place.”
Along with sheltering and providing therapy for victims of abuse, the center provides education and prevention in schools, colleges and doctor’s offices, according to Olejnick.
“All of the services Women in Distress offers are completely confidential, and they’re available to anyone in the community, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation,” she said. “We have housing for men in our shelter. Often, families are coming in with a teenage son, and most shelters in Florida will not accept the family because of that. We have a special wing where we can accept families with [children of any age].”
Olejnick emphasized the educational aspect of the 5K and Women in Distress’ mission to increase awareness for the people whom domestic violence affects.
“This is our second year at NSU, so we’re really looking to really get the college crowd out there because we feel like this is such an important issue [for] them,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know that this resource exists — that it’s completely anonymous, completely private. If you’re in an abusive situation, our only concern is to get you out of that.”
Olejnick said Women in Distress’ education and prevention team works closely with NSU, and the center has had a long-standing relationship with the psychology department, which provides interns.
“[The interns are] the direct service providers for the victims, and they provide them with counseling services,” she said.
Until Feb. 19, Women in Distress is also holding a special contest in which those who sign up and raise at least $100 get the chance to win a FitBit, restaurant gift certificates and other prizes.
General attendance is free. For more information about Safewalk-run 5K, or to register, visit womenindistress.org/events/safewalk-run-5k. For more information about Women in Distress, or to learn about volunteering and internship opportunities, visit womenindistress.org.
