Love shouldn’t hurt, running to support victims of domestic violence
Hello, my name is Jenna and I am a Deputy working for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. My fellow brothers and sisters and I in law enforcement are running 26.2 mile's in full uniform in memory of those heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon on 11/11/18 and the Dallas Marathon 12/09/18. We are doing this to ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten. (For more information about our cause visit http://projectremember.ngo/)
Along with running to remember the heroes lost, I have created this fundraising page and am running to raise money and awareness for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault , a cause that I feel very strongly about. “Peace Over Violence” (https://www.peaceoverviolence.org/) is a non-profit organization who supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Domestic violence victims cry a silent cry. A cry most don’t talk about and goes vastly unreported because the person perpetrating the crime is the same person who commonly vowed to protect them. I am running to break the stigma that goes along with domestic violence. Victims are all around you (Men, women, anyone can be a victim, violence does not see a gender). They are your friends, sisters, daughters, moms, co-workers, and partners. We are everywhere!
Coming forward after you have been abused is the hardest thing imaginable. I know because I am a victim. On the outside I looked strong and happy. I was independent. A fit Deputy Sheriff that can protect others but was unable to protect myself. I felt so many complicated emotions, but that being said I wish I would have said something, I SHOULD have said something after the first time, if I could go back now I would without question. Coming forward remains one of the hardest things I have ever done, to some that does not make sense, but when you have been through something like this you understand just how complicated it is.
That is why I am doing this, I want to help others so they don’t make the same mistakes I did. I want to save others the hurt I went through, and save them the pain I go through today because of it. I want to tell them they will be ok and there is hope!
I am grateful to be out of this awful situation but I would be lying if I told you there was a day that went by that I don’t think about it.
I hope and pray with the efforts I put in to this awareness, it will help others get out of their situation.
Remember, you may never know what your partners/ coworkers, friends and family are going through, but take the time to listen, be kind to one another, you never know the hardships the person next to you is going through.
Please know that if you are a victim ITS NOT YOUR FAULT! ASK FOR HELP, your family, friends, and children need you.
Facts you should know:
- A woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds.
- 1 in 3 women—and 1 in 4 men—have been in abusive relationships, and 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have suffered severe physical violence.
- 20 people are abused by an intimate partner every minute, adding up to 10 million each year.
- Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crimes.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is here to help at 1-800-799-7233
The Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline is here to help at 1-800-978-3600
Be brave, we are here for you, you are not alone!
