White run for White Ribbon
A typical colour run involves runners wearing white and being sprayed with coloured powder
Before they head out on the course runners will be given small bags of flour to throw when they run.
‘‘Runners run along and rip them open and fling the flour around,’’ HALT co-ordinator Tracy Merson said.
Flour will also be thrown on runners from the edges of the course.
The course at Donnelly Park, Levin, is just under 1km and is laid out in the shape of a ribbon.
HALT event co-ordinator Stephanie Cook said it was meant to be fun event, but did not want people to forget the reason for it.
‘‘It’s a fun family day with a serious message behind it – family violence is not OK.’’
Over 3500 convictions are recorded against men each year for assaults on women. On average, 14 women a year are killed by their partners or ex-partners.
‘‘We need people to understand they should stand up against domestic violence,’’ Merson said.
‘‘This is a community that does not tolerate it.’’
Merson said they were trying to change the attitudes towards how people thought about domestic violence.
‘‘It wasn’t that long ago that domestic violence ‘wasn’t our business’. The change is slow but it has to happen.’’
Less than 20 per cent of abuse cases in New Zealand are reported.
Domestic violence also had a profound effect on children, she said.
The event will be held at Donnelly Park, Levin, from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday. Registrations open at midday before the run.
One in three women will experience partner violence at some point in their lives.