State Senator LeAnna Washington to Host Sixth Annual “Run/Walk to End Domestic Violence”

Victims of domestic violence need a helping hand during their darkest times. That’s why State Senator LeAnna Washington, a domestic abuse survivor, is hosting the sixth annual “Run/Walk to End Domestic Violence” on Saturday, October 26 on West River Drive. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the event kicks off at 9:30 am with a stirring performance of “We are Family” by Sister Sledge.  To register in advance, go to www.runtheday.com/registration/race_info/20263.

“Every day in Philadelphia, the Police Department responds to more than 390 calls regarding incidents of domestic violence emergencies,” said Senator Washington.  “And every nine seconds in the United States, a woman is assaulted or beaten.  It’s time to stop this crime.” 

In Philadelphia, abuse affects more than 5,000 children annually.  Sadly, some of them will become orphans. In 2012, there were 24 domestic violence deaths in Philadelphia – the highest number in any county across the state. 

 The Run/Walk is held in conjunction with Women Against Abuse, Women in Transition, Lutheran Settlement House, Congreso, and Black Women’s Health Alliance.  It benefits Philadelphia’s only domestic abuse hotline, a 24-hour bilingual hotline operated by professionals that receives more than 10,000 calls a year from individuals seeking help.

State Senator LeAnna Washington, the Legislature’s leading advocate on issues of domestic violence, is a survivor herself. She endured frequent beatings and abuse at the hands of her husband and father of her three children. Now she shares her story in the hopes of giving others the strength to fight.  “We are determined to continue raising awareness for the Hotline so we can be there to support and stand up for the victims.”

Senator LeAnna Washington represents the 4th District, which consists of parts of Montgomery County and the City of Philadelphia. Washington has served in the Senate for eight years, since May 2005, when she won a special election. Prior to serving in the Pennsylvania Senate, she served from November 1993 to June 2005 in the PA House of Representatives, representing the 200th legislative district. Washington currently serves as Democratic Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations, Urban Affairs & Housing, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees.  Additionally, Washington is a member of the Children's Trust Fund Board.

For more information on the Run/Walk to End Domestic Violence, visit www.domesticviolencewalk.com.

State Senator LeAnna Washington can be found on Twitter @Sen_Washington and at www.facebook.com/SenatorLeAnnaWashington. For more information, visit www.senatorwashington.com.