October has been the month of the year where across the nation domestic violence has been recognized. On Oct. 8 Rolling River Bistro sponsored our community-wide effort to bring awareness to Adams County with our Purple Dress Run 2015. First Natchez Radio Group began our efforts weeks prior to the event with radio announcements and live interviews.

Our Thursday evening event was well attended and fun was had by all. Dr. Ed Daly was our first-place winner, Hayes Daly second-place winner and Kevin Johnston third-place winner. The bike club had nine participants that completed a 15-mile bike ride with only fun and no competition. The cross country running team of Trinity Episcopal Day School was well represented in the event. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rolling River Bistro and First Natchez Radio for the donation of their services to this project.

This year was special in that we honored Ryan Richardson and Rachel Odom Tuminello, whose ideas for this fundraiser were developed in 2010. Their tireless efforts to support our Shelter activities have been greatly appreciated over the years. I would also like to thank our sponsors whose donations made the Purple Dress Run a success. Those include Davidson Package, Home Bank, Gene’s Tire Center, J.E. Hicks Company, Natchez Women’s Center, Mamie’s Cupboard, Natchez Total Fitness, Miss-Lou Eye Care, City of Vidalia, G.L. Jones Maintenance Inc., Franklin County Farm Bureau with Trey Hill and Jimmy and Tammy Torrey. I would also like to thank the Natchez Police Department for their time and attention to the runners’ and volunteers’ safety. Our planning committee for the run was Jacob Cowart, Renee Cantu, Laura Ann Brown, Ashley Anderson and Beth and Allan Richard. Special thanks to two of my staff who were there for the long and tiring haul, Kim Johnson and Sandra Barr. I would also like to thank Paul Miller and Becky Dupree for food preparation.

Our communities need to be reminded that every day in the United States one in four women and one in five men are victims of a violent act. Across the U.S., 20,000 calls are made per day from victims reaching out for assistance. Three women are murdered by men they know every day, and ages 18-24 are the most commonly abused population by their intimate partners. There is a 35 percent higher rate for African-American women to be abused than white women. Educating the faith communities and training those leaders, as well as collaboration with the mental health specialists and domestic violence centers will produce a community that is aware and involved in the actions necessary to stop the abuse.

 

Donna Miller is the program director for Catholic Charities and The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families.