NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Curtison Badonie, 505-243-9199 or [email protected] 

Running in Honor of Domestic Violence Victims for CSVANW’s 3rd Annual #IWillRunForHer Run/Walk   

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – September 28, 2018 –  Giving voice to victims and survivors of domestic violence, the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) will host its 3rd Annual #IWillRunForHer on October 6. 

CSVANW Executive Director, Deleana OtherBull, said the Coalition started this event in commemoration of National Domestic Violence Month to honor Native women and children who have been impacted by violence, as well as help those who have witnessed violence or work in this field as a way to heal our communities. 

The issue becomes more important as four out of five of Native women are affected by violence, according to National Institute of Justice. Fifty-five percent of the women surveyed were domestic violence victims. 

“This is not just a statistic; it is our mothers, sisters, and daughters,” OtherBull says. “By presenting this issue as part of finding wellbeing, we can continue healing and find prevention in positive ways. Running, healthy living and movement are medicine.”  

The community 5k and 1k kids’ run will be at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. Registration and packet pick up will begin at 8 a.m. The 5k run/walk will begin at 9 a.m., and the children’s Little One Fun Run will start at 10 a.m. SIPI’s sports and track field ( click for more information ).  

Leroy Silva, Community Coordinator of the Notah Begay III Foundation, and Manasseh Endwarrior, an avid runner and youth mentor with Wings of America running camps, will be guest speakers. The first 200 adult and 50 kids finishers will receive a #IWillRunForHer Coalition race shirt and the top runners will receive medals. More than 275 runners are expected, some traveling from Arizona and Colorado. 

For more information about #IWillRunForHer or about the Coalition, go to www.csvanw.org . 

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