When We Move Together, Survivors Don't Walk Alone

This April, Ashley and Cassie are participating in Stride for Safe Place: a virtual 5K benefiting Hanover Safe Place, a local non-profit serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence right here in Hanover County.

Sexual violence affects 1 in 5 women and nearly 1 in 6 men in their lifetime. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. But here's what we believe: we have the power to change that. By supporting organizations like Hanover Safe Place, we invest in crisis support, counseling, legal advocacy, emergency shelter, and prevention education that makes our community safer for everyone.

• Why Cassie is Striding: This cause is deeply personal to me. I have the honor of working for Hanover Safe Place, and every day I witness the courage it takes for survivors to keep moving forward. With 6 years at Hanover Safe Place and over a decade of walking alongside survivors in my career - this work has shaped who I am in ways I carry with me always. As a survivor myself, I also understand the journey from the inside, and I don't take any of it lightly. Participating in this event is my way of moving with them, and of saying: I see you, I believe you, and this community is behind you.
  
  
• Why Ashley is Striding: Supporting others has always been at the core of who I am. I am passionate about showing up for people in meaningful ways, and causes like this one - that protect and uplift survivors - hold a very special place in my heart for personal reasons I understand deeply. I'm striding this April because survivors deserve a community that shows up for them, loudly and proudly. Walking alongside Cassie in this event felt like exactly the right way to do that.

During run week (April 20th–24th), we'll be completing our virtual 5K from the most breathtaking backdrop we could imagine - the trails of Yosemite National Park! We're turning our April trip into a moment of purpose, and we plan to explore as much of the park as our legs will carry us, tracking every mile along the way. We'd love for you to be right there with us for every step of it.

Here's How You Can Walk with Us:

💛 Make a flat donation in any amount
💛 Pledge per mile - $1, $2, or $5 for every mile we log across those Yosemite trails

You can pledge for Ashley, Cassie, or both of us! Once run week wraps up on April 24th, we'll share our final mile totals and you'll make your donation based on what we completed. It's a fun way to cheer us on in real time - every mile we explore, you're right there with us in spirit!

Every dollar goes directly to survivors in Hanover County. No contribution is too small, and every single one tells a survivor: you are not alone, and your community is behind you.

When we move together, survivors don't walk alone. 💙