As October closed out, the Rising with Red Foundation held a survivor walk on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the West Wetlands Park.
October is an awareness month for domestic violence (DV), breast cancer, and pregnancy and infant loss, so this walk was intended to bring survivors and loved ones together to raise awareness of these issues and show support for each other.
This isn’t the foundation’s first walk, however. Rising with Red founder Bailey ‘Red’ Ray said she was inspired to do another walk that included all of October's awareness topics.
“October is known for multiple things, you know? Infant awareness, loss. I wanted to do DV awareness and also breast cancer," Red said. "... you see someone and you see how much this affects them.”
Being a domestic violence survivor herself, Red wanted to take action.
“I one day told myself that I was no longer going to sit in that pain and that fear anymore, and that I was gonna overcome it for not only myself, but for other victims out there that need to heal in a better environment,” she said.
Red has expressed a passion for helping those who are in crisis by creating a nonprofit bringing survivors together by inviting anyone who has not only been personally affected by domestic violence, but for others who were tackling personal challenges that are sensitive subjects.
“I just want to let them know that I'm here for them and that they don't have to do life alone,” she said.
Children’s Director Abby Lent, who works with the Rising with Red Foundation, said it's meaningful to see other survivors come out and be welcomed. She described the feeling as a healing process.
“Just watching them and listening to them and understanding where they've come from helps me kind of cope with what I've gone through,” Lent said.
Lent said that it is nice to see everyone come together for the same purpose.
Of the group of people attending the walk, KAWC spoke with Arlette Casanova, who came to the survivor walk in honor of her mother.
“My mom is a survivor," Casanova said. "She survived cancer five years ago, actually — more than five years already. So we're just walking for her."
As this event brought survivors and loved ones together, the survivor walk not only empowered those affected by domestic violence, breast cancer, and pregnancy and infant loss, it was a reminder that nobody is truly alone. The Rising with Red Foundation created this space to honor survivors and raise awareness for people personally affected by these experiences.
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