Domestic Violence Awareness Walk adding 5K run

Support and education - those are the goals of Saturday's Domestic Abuse Awareness 5K run and walk.

This year's Havre walk, sponsored by District 4 Human Resources Development Council, Hill County Public Health Department and United Way of Hill County, is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. with sign-ups starting at 9:30 a.m. The event, expected to go until noon, will start in the Western Drug parking lot.

The purpose of the event is to show support for domestic violence victims and survivors, HRDC Domestic Violence Advocate Chelsea Nottingham said.

"As well as to let the community know what resources are available to them and what services we provide and what resources we can connect victims to," she added.

Nottingham, who has been with the program for a year and a half, said that for the past six years the event was just a walk.

"This year, we really wanted to appeal to the running community and make it a bigger event," Nottingham said.

In addition to the 5K run, other aspects will be included in the event to make it bigger than previous years.

Representatives from a group at Montana Statue University-Northern who are focused on changing rape culture will provide information during the event.

Fat Billy and the Barbecue Boys will sell food at the awareness walk. The morning will also include a band playing live music and T-shirts for sale.

At last year's awareness walk, Nottingham said, about 30 people showed up, adding that most people who turn up for this event are women.

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, so the issue is not just something that affects women, Nottingham said. It's a behavior of power and control that one partner uses over another partner.

Domestic violence also includes emotional and mental abuse.

"It's important for men to get involved to set an example for their children and their boys out there to treat women with respect," Nottingham said. "It goes hand in hand with bullying."

Once all participants have completed the course, a bundle of balloons will be released to symbolize unity and moving on against domestic violence, Nottingham said.

The starting point at the Western Drug Pharmacy parking lot is on the 100 Block of Fifth Avenue. The course then runs about a mile and a half south on Fifth Avenue, crosses to the west side of Fifth Avenue and comes back to the parking lot.

Water will be handed out to walkers and runners.

Nottingham said that they are encouraging people to bring non-perishable food items or toiletries, especially toiletries such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers or wipes. These items will be donated to the women's shelter.

"I just want people to know and come out and support the victims and survivors as well as to know the information that is available to them in order to help them get through this," Nottingham said. "I just want them to see the faces of our program and know that there is help."

Nottingham said a crisis line, 265-2222, has someone standing by 24/7. The line offers peer counseling and referrals and takes requests for shelter.

Saturday's walk is free to everyone in the community, Nottingham said. The event theme is purple, the color for domestic violence.