By Callan Gray (NCC News)
October 13, 2010, 1:26 p.m.
Walking for the children
Syracuse, NY--The second of eight "Pathway to Healing" community walks to raise awareness about crime violence, kicks off Wednesday afternoon. The walk sponsored by the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site , focuses on helping child abuse victims through the healing process.
Executive Director of the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site, Julie Cecile, says it is important the community stand behind those who have suffered because of these crimes.
"I'm hoping the people are coming out because they really want the community to be supporting," says Cecile. "Especially this month we are highlighting, or talking about, child abuse, out littlest victims, and obviously we can't get all of those kids to walk so we have to get the adults to walk for them."
Cecile says the eight walks will culminate on April 13, 2011 for the Crime Victims Vigil the Site hosts. The walks, which each highlight a different group of crime victims, are held the second Wednesday of every month.
The walks in the coming months focus on...
- November: Domestic and sexual violence
- December: DWI and traffic safety
- January: Law enforcement
- February: Fire and ambulance
- March: Homicide and violent crimes
- April: Crime Victims Vigil
"In the past we've really concentrated on homicide victims and obviously they are victims," says Cecile. "But we wanted to make sure the community understood that there are many victims of crimes, whether it be child abuse, which we are highlighting this month, next month is domestic and sexual violence."
Cecile says the vigil is held during April because Crime Victim's Rights Week is during that month.
The walk will start at 4:00 p.m. outside of the Crouse Hospital emergency room and will end downtown in front of the Onondaga County Justice Center. It is expected to finish at about 4:30 p.m.
The McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site
The McMahon/Ryan Advocacy Site helps children who have been physically or sexually abused. It also provides mental, medical and emotional health to children and families who have been victims of abuse.
The Site has a child abuse response team with members from law enforcement, child protectors, medical, mental health and advocacy, according to Cecile. She says the organization coordinates that team from the center itself.
"We also have two child advocates and those child advocates help them from the minute they walk through the door, through to the end of the process and thereafter," notes Cecile.
Awareness programs such as these walks, are needed, says Cecile, because there has been an increase in child abuse hot line calls and a rise in physical and sexual abuse.
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