Walk aims to ‘End the Silence’ on abuse

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, event organizers say

MIDDLETOWN — New Horizons Domestic Violence Services and the Community Health Center have teamed up to host the seventh annual Walk to End the Silence in an effort to raise awareness about intimate partner violence.

In past years, the event has consisted of a group walk near the end of October, with all participants walking the same route together. This year, the event is being held in an alternative, hybrid format, according to Alyssa Martin, program director of New Horizons Domestic Violence Services.

Participants can walk a designated path in Middletown or a route of their choosing, all on their own time.

Martin was joined by other members of CHC Staff on Wednesday morning to walk the trail in Middletown.

“It went well,” Martin said. “It’s a very pretty area.”

The designated walking path in Middletown begins and ends at 169 Cross St. near the Middletown Fire Department Station 2. It includes Long Lane and Wadsworth and Pine streets, and is clearly marked with signs.

Martin said the event began as a response to the 2015 incident where a father dropped his infant son off of the Arrigoni Bridge, adding that Aaden Moreno is one of many victims of abuse that this event is meant to honor.

“We walk to honor his memory and the memory of others,” Martin said.

Tony Moreno was convicted and sentenced to 70 years in prison in 2017.

The event is held every year to celebrate survivors of of intimate partner violence in Middlesex county and beyond, Martin said.

New Horizons defines intimate partner violence, also known as domestic vio

lence, as “a pattern of abusive and coercive behaviors that abusers use to control their intimate partners,” according to its website. Anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence, it said.

According to statistics provided by New Horizons, more than 200,000 phone calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines every year, and in Connecticut, one out of every three criminal court cases involves domestic violence.

“It’s something that we need to continue to raise

awareness about,” Martin said.

A registration fee of $20 will be used to fund services

offered by New Horizons, including an emergency shelter, food and basic necessities, court advocacy and support, individual or group therapy, and counseling, community education initiatives and more.

So far, just under $1,300 has been raised, according to the CHC’s fundraising page.

Anyone interested has until the end of October to participate. To register, go to the to New Horizon’s website. Organizers ask that all walkers wear purple, and share photos or posts to social media while on their walk using #WTES2021 and by tagging @NewHorizonsDV.

For information on domestic violence, visit newhorizonsdv.com.

Kimberly Pena / Contributed photo New Horizons Domestic Violence Services is hosting a fundraising walk to help victims.

Kimberly Pena / Contributed photo The New Horizons Domestic Violence Services annual benefit walk wends its way along Long Lane and Wadsworth and Pine streets in Middletown.