NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- While April showers bring May flowers the rain postponed the Sexual Assault Awareness, Prevention and Response (SAPR) FUN Run to yesterday.
Officially April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), but members of the Niagara Falls ARS continued their focus on SAPR participating in a 2 mile Fun Run/Walk here, May 7. The run brought the NFARS community together with representation of all that are stationed here, military and civilian raising awareness to the problem of sexual assault in the military.
Participants in the race all wore bib number 5,061 to respect the number of reported military related sexual assaults in 2013. Although the number of reported assaults has doubled from last year it may mean that those who have been assaulted are now confident enough in their command to come forward. Victims may believe that their perpetrators are going to be held accountable; giving them hope justice will be served.
Runners were tasked along the route with various scenarios to symbolize that although sexual assault victims may have obstacles along the way they can make it to the finish and get their lives back with support from their leadership and wingmen.
If you are the victim of an assault remember help is available around the clock and you are not alone. Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocates are available at major Department of Defense installations to assist victims and survivors of sexual assault. The NFARS SARC serves as the single point of contact for integrating and coordinating sexual assault victim (survivor) care 24/7, 365 days a year. The SARC Office is also responsible for providing Sexual Assault Prevention training throughout the installation.
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