Race/walk supports end to violence
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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom |
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
GUILFORD — On Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. runners and walkers will take off from Piscataquis Community Elementary School and travel five kilometers or 3.1 miles in the 20th edition of the Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance’s Race to End Domestic Abuse. The race, which will be followed by a 20th anniversary community celebration, is part of a month of events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month organized by and/or benefitting the alliance (the Penobscot and Piscataquis county agencies merged several years ago to pool resources).
The first event of Domestic Awareness Month will be on Oct. 1, the inaugural ride for domestic violence awareness hosted by Heart & Soul Tattoo Studio of Corinth. The procession will depart from the studio at 313 Main Street and travel to the Cambridge General Store and Restaurant for lunch before returning to Corinth. The ride proceeds will be donated to the Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance, and more information is available on the Heart & Soul Tattoo Studio Facebook page.
“It’s really cool when people we don’t expect pop up and it gets different people involved,” Spruce-Run Womancare Alliance Advocacy Program Manager Cindy Freeman Cyr said.
Prevention Educator Angie Alfonso said the day after the motorcycle ride will be the Race to End Domestic Abuse. “One of the most exciting things is this year it is our 20th anniversary,” she said, saying walks predate the race which was organized in part due to the efforts of Chris Almy, John Chase and Jim Wentworth.
Alfonso said Almy is scheduled to give some remarks just before the race to let participants know what they will be running and walking for. “He’s ready and willing to give a pep talk,” Alfonso said. She said a number of past staff, steering committee members and others are scheduled to attend the 20th annual race on Sunday morning, which will have the theme, “Remember the past and hope for the future.”
“We have maintained and continued and I think that’s something to celebrate,” Freeman Cyr said. “I think what’s important is the dedication of Chris (Almy) and Jim (Wentworth), we certainly wouldn’t have pulled it off without their dedication.”
“We are well over the $12,000 mark and that is so much in part to our business sponsors,” Alfonso said, saying many of these establishments have given for a number of years. She said a number of student groups walk annually to raise funds and awareness in the event, the largest single fundraiser in Piscataquis County for the organization.
“Undoubtedly we will meet the $20,000 goal and that is amazing at this time of year and in this county,” Alfonso said.
Registration for the 20th annual Race to End Domestic Abuse opens at 8 a.m. The course heads down Campus Drive from PCES and turns to Route 15 where runners and walkers will head to the Piscataquis River Walk. Along the trail they will travel to Route 23 and then cross the road for a stretch on the walk before turning back. On Route 23 participants will take a right and then head back to the school via Route 15 to give the event a greater visibility.
After everyone has returned, a 20th anniversary celebration starts at 10:30 a.m. with an awards ceremony and cake. Prizes will be given to the top two male and female runners with medals going to the first- and second-place men’s and women’s finishers in five different age groups.
“This year the T-shirt has a purple ribbon with a picture of the covered bridge and Piscataquis River,” Alfonso said, with performance shirts going to runners and long-sleeved T-shirts for walkers. She said those raising $100 in pledges will earn a special edition tote bag celebrating the 20th race anniversary.
Race forms, pledge sheets and more information is available at http://www.sprucerun.net/ and the Alliance Facebook page.
“This time of year is usually a good time for people to get out,” Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance Outreach Advocate Art Jette said. “It’s a celebratory atmosphere this year for anniversary but we are just wanting people to be with us to take a step against violence.”
Walks to end domestic abuse are scheduled for three consecutive Wednesdays on Oct. 5, 12 and 19 in Orono, Lincoln and Bangor. “City leaders have already decided will they adopt some sort of resolution of the community’s desire to take a stance to end the violence,” Jette said about the Oct. 19 noon walk in Bangor. “Doing so establishes the city’s value of being intolerant of abuse.”
He said Wednesday, Oct. 12 is also Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day. Jette said information packets on the effects of domestic violence on health have been created to share with medical providers, who can help in screening and providing resources to patients in a non-intrusive manner.
“The last event will be a candlelight vigil here in Dover-Foxcroft, it will be at the Congregational Church,” Alfonso said, on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 6-8 p.m. She said the Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance’s vigil will feature soups and breads and then time “to honor those lost to domestic violence and still dealing with domestic violence.”
“I think it really pays homage to the work we have been doing all these years,” she said, adding the vigil is an opportunity for the community to learn more and get involved.
“I think there’s a lot of of yearning for that event, not just on our part but for those who have never experienced that sort of thing,” Jette said.
“We want people to know there’s an opportunity to speak,” Freeman Cyr said.
Throughout October will be three month-long campaigns. The Knowledge is Power Campaign is aimed to start a conversation about tolerance through displays and age-appropriate books donated to schools, town and hospital libraries. The three selections are “Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson for young readers, “Gracefully Grayson” by Ami Polonsky is the teen novel and “Spoiled Milk” by K.L. Randis is earmarked for adults.
“We will also be continuing our Facebook campaign tieing in with our theme of ‘Remember the past and hope for the future,’” Alfonso said, as people are asked to think about the theme and share their thoughts through social media.
The third endeavor is “Paint Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties Purple.” Jette said the Alliance is partnering with various towns to place purple ribbon cutouts at the welcome signs “as a sort of silent voice that recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We are going to try to place them in as many communities as we can.”
“We are hoping we can get a little buzz about ‘what are those purple ribbons?,” Jette said, saying one possibility may be to have pictures of town leaders standing by the ribbons to show the connection to the community. “Those who don’t know may ask questions, and maybe those conversations will create ripples in the water and there will be more people talking about the issue.”
Hammond Lumber of Greenville has provided materials for the ribbons and a concrete contractor has given their service pro bono. Jette said 40 ribbons are ready and another 40 are planned. He added that residents and businesses are also encouraged to put out purple displays and wear purple clothing throughout the month.
Alfonso said a Masquerade Ball is planned for Friday, Oct. 28 at The Mill Event Space in Dover-Foxcroft, to benefit the Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance.
“We are hoping with this wide slate events we will meet as many people as possible with conversation and help,” she said. “We are here 12 months a year .”