Running to Fight Domestic Violence

Andrea Gilham looked a little tired after running three miles Saturday morning.

She took part in the Family Violence Stops Here Fun Run/Walk.

Andrea is a sometimes-runner, but it was more than the run that prompted her to drive in from Fort Belknap for the run/walk which started and ended at the RC Model Flying Club field south of the city.

"My sister died at the hands of domestic violence," she said. "Oct. 29, 1997."

Her death is coming up on its 15th anniversary and it's still painful for her to talk about.

So events like the run/walk are important to her.

"This cause means a lot to me," she said. "I really appreciate the work these people are doing," she said, referring to the team at HRDC that helps those people deal with domestic abuse.

The run/walk is held annually to raise awareness about the problems of domestic abuse on the Hi-Line. A smaller-than-usual crowd turned out Saturday, a beautiful day for walking and running, because it was rescheduled from two weeks ago when it was washed out by a rainstorm.

The event is a combination of two of Andrea's passions - fighting domestic abuse and running.

Her boyfriend finished first in the race. Spider Ramone is a frequent runner. When he's not in rodeos, he runs the hills and plains around his hometown, Hays.

"He runs around Hays. I use my treadmill," Andrea said, laughing.

The run is designed to be just what Andrea wanted it to be: A way to have fun and a way to bring the problems of domestic abuse out in the open

Organizers want to bring domestic abuse out of the shadows and into the sunlight, say organizers.

It's not as bad as it used to be but people are still afraid to talk about it, and to see people having a good time while decrying abuse is a good thing, they said.

Amber Huestis, executive director of the program, said the run/walk might encourage people to volunteer to work helping victims.

Often people think they need special training, she said, but there are places for people of all kinds of talents to work.

If people can cook, they can prepare meals for victims and their children, she said. People with pickup trucks can help them move their belongings when they find a permanent place to live.

Those who like to work with children can babysit when victims are on job interviews, she said.

And there is a 24-hour hotline where people can call for advice, help and someone to talk to, she said.

The program runs a shelter where victims can be taken in a crisis.

The runners and walkers were glad to be helping out the good cause, but especially the younger ones were more interested in the good times.

"My mom said I could go as far as I wanted to go," said Peter Stiffarm, 6. He chose the one-mile run and was the first to return to the starting point. He headed to the water and granola bars that were offered to the finishers.

Daniel Joseph Raser, 5, did a victory dance after he finished the run.

Young Taymon Stiffarm had a good reason to run.

"My mom sort of owns this," he said.

His mother, Jessica Kennedy-Stiffarm, was co-chair of the event.