First walk for sexual assault awareness this Saturday in Trenton

“The word is rape,” Jeannine LaRue said.

“And it took me a long time to say the word. To admit. That was such a dark time in my life.”

LaRue, a former New Jersey lobbyist and longtime child and women’s advocate, will step into the light of Cadwalader Park on Saturday to inspire sexual assault victims as part of the Rising Over Sexual Abuse (R.O.S.A) event.

Trenton’s first Sexual Awareness 3K Walk on April, 14 represents a partnership between R.O.S.A. and Womanspace, Inc.

“If my story can empower other women to step out of the darkness then I need to tell it,” LaRue said.

More than 250 walkers, some of them local and state politicians, local and state community leaders, advocates and abuse survivors, have committed to spreading sexual assault awareness to empower children, heal victims, educate adults and transform society’s response to sexual assault.

The walk will kick-off with uplifting words, and life changing testimonials from advocates, and survivors of sexual abuse. Among the speakers are, R.O.S.A founder and walk organizer, Tona BuckTeel.

A resource health fair will be setup, offering secure health care screenings. Qualified health professionals and counselors from nonprofit partners will also be onsite, providing educational materials, answering questions and counseling pertaining to sexual and physical abuse, mental health and wellness.

Buck-Teel notes that breaking the silence is the first step from victim to survivor. When she finally had the courage to tell her mother about the abuse, her mother responded, “I wish you would have told me.”

Buck-Teel offered, “I didn’t know what to tell.” Tragically, not knowing how or what to tell is one of the main reasons child victims don’t report their abuse. Even into adulthood they keep their abuse a secret.

LaRue kept her silence for almost 25 years until she finally told her secret publicly.

“Telling my story set me free,” LaRue said.

R.O.S.A. and Womanspace, Inc. noted that participants walk not only to spread awareness, we walk to let the courageous women and men who have been the victims of sexual assault know, there is support, they have a voice, and it will be heard. Together we stand, to say NO MORE!

Read about LaRue’s story only in The Trentonian on Sunday, April 15.