WARNING: This story contains graphic details of intimate partner violence.
Over 800 men, women and children ran and walked at Centennial Park in Moncton to raise awareness and funds for mental health programs.
They took part in the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women on Sunday morning.
Survivor of Domestic Violence Colette Martin participated for the first time, “Twenty-six years ago, May 1st is the anniversary, I was almost murdered by my ex-boyfriend. It took me a long time to get to this point. I was actually stabbed 37 times and my throat was slit, and I just ran for my life. But I made it. I am a survivor and now a warrior.”
Her hope is to help others who may find themselves in a similar predicament, “Listen to your voice and listen to that little voice inside of you. And if it feels like something’s not right, it’s not right and try and get out as soon as possible. Don’t wait because it never gets better. We try to save them and it doesn’t work,” Martin says.
The Baie-Ste-Anne woman says she has shared her story of survival with women from around the world.
(Photo: TDCB)
The hundreds of participants in their baby blue ‘Run for Women’ t-shirts ran or walked five or ten kilometres through Centennial Park and on St. George Boulevard.
Donations raised this year will support the Little Courageous trauma-informed daycare operated by the Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre.
Over $120,000 was donated, surpassing their goal by $20,000.
CEO Kristal LeBlanc says, “We are really paying tribute to victims that we have lost to acts of domestic homicide. When people registered, they chose one of our silent witnesses that they would like to walk in honour of.”
The Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women is held annually in 18 communities across the country.
(Photo: TDCB)
