Men's Awareness Walk a success for Moss House

Friday, September 9, 2016

Nevada Daily Mail

Council on Families in Crisis just wrapped up a very successful fundraiser that started in June and ended on Tuesday night, at the fourth annual Men's Awareness Walk. The fundraiser will benefit Moss House, the agency's domestic and sexual violence shelter.

The agency raised $44,000, before expenses, by giving people the opportunity to win a new 2016 Dodge Challenger. The winner of the car was Aimee Pierce of Nevada. Council on Families in Crisis Executive Director, Martha Sander, said it was very exciting to call Aimee and tell her she had won the car.

Sander said, "I could tell when I called her that she was a little shocked to be hearing from me. And, it was awesome to see her smile at the Nevada Auto Mall on Wednesday, when she was given the keys."

Additional funds were raised at the Men's Awareness Walk, an event where men are asked to MAN UP, in at least three inches of high heels. The Men's Awareness Walk is a national men's movement to bring awareness to the reality that every nine seconds a woman is battered in the United States and every two minutes a woman is raped.

The event includes a seven-block awareness walk and team competition for the bragging rights to retain the "Shoe Trophy" for a year. Approximately 25 men participated in the Men's Awareness Walk and 16 men competed in the team competition. The winner this year was Nevada Elks Lodge. Other teams included the Nevada Lions Club, United Methodist Church, and Wilkinson Pharmacy.

When asked why this event is so important, Sander replied, "Because domestic and sexual violence is not just a woman's issue, it's everyone's issue. What a great moment to see strong men, confident in themselves, put on high heels, and walk forth in the community to say NO MORE rape and abuse of our women and girls. It's such a powerful statement."

Council on Families in Crisis provides many services to the local and surrounding counties, including emergency shelter at Moss House, crisis intervention, case management, children's services, non-residential outreach services, court advocacy, law enforcement advocacy, transportation, task force, batterer intervention services, and assistance with Safe At Home, MoVANS, and Crime Victim's Compensation. If you are a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, sexual trafficking, or teen dating violence, please call their 24-hour crisis hotline, 1-800-398-4271. All calls are confidential.

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