Benefit Walk Set For Saturday

With runners coming from as far away as Tyler and Dallas, there’s still time – right up until race time – for folks to sign up for both the CAC Walk 5K run and the more leisurely "mosey and sashay" Saturday, June 14, on the First Monday grounds. The event, which includes a family-friendly tailgate party, benefits the Children’s Advocacy Center of Van Zandt County.

The family-friendly "community competition for a cause" begins with race-day registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 5K (3.17 miles) run/walk on the First Monday grounds for serious runners and walkers and a 9:45 a.m. "mosey and sashay parade" on the same course for the rest of us.

A 50-yard children’s dash and other events are set for 11:30 a.m. followed by a noon tailgate party with food, fun games, contests, and live entertainment for all ages.

CAC provides a safe, friendly environment where victims of sexual and physical abuse, child neglect, and child witnesses to violent crimes can tell their stories once, with trained representatives, so they don’t have to appear in court or repeat sometimes-traumatic testimony over and over again.

"Statistics show that one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday," said Geane Fellers, forensic interviewer and executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center. "This county must step up now to prevent the consequences of abuse in these children. Drug/alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, suicide, eating disorders, and prostitution are just some of the consequences of sexual abuse."

Individuals can register right up until 8:30 a.m. Saturday, when the serious runners hit the track, followed by the walk.

Major sponsors are Trinity Mother Frances SportsCare, Coca-Cola, Farm Bureau Insurance, and True Country 1510 AM radio. Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola are teaming up to furnish food and drinks at the 11:30 a.m. tailgate party at The Arbors.

Staff at several local restaurants are competing to see who can raise the most money by getting people to sign their T-shirts.

"It is amazing about those who sign the shirts," said Bob Moore. "Almost all have a story or want to improve enforcement and prosecution. It causes those who wear the shirts to feel good about being involved."

In addition, local community captains are recruiting teams. The captains are Pat Puckett (903-567-4164) in Canton, Helen Howell (972-249-5088) in Edgewood, Mary Scott (903-852-3975) in Edom, Ruth Veach (903-962-0415) in Grand Saline, Sharon Stehsel (903-477-2787) in Martins Mill-Ben Wheeler, and Jim and Jean Lynch (903-360-1119) in Van, and Nancy Hammonds (903-873-2445) in Wills Point. Civic organizations, schools, churches, and other groups can enter teams, too, for $100 per team.

Individual registration for adults is $20. The cost for children age 8 and under is $8 for the run and $5 for the 50-yard dash. Registration forms are available at all county chamber offices or by calling Bob and Ann Moore at 903-312-7743.

The overall goal for this event is $40,000.

CAC receives core funding from a legislative appropriation through the Office of the Texas Attorney General’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund to cover general operating costs, team training, mental health providers, and other expenses.

The Van Zandt County CAC must meet this grant 100 percent with private dollars raised through individual and corporate gifts, civic club and community organization support, and special fund-raising.

The cooperative effort to stop abuse includes law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the prosecutor’s office, medical and mental health services, the East Texas Crisis Center, CASA, and CAC executive director and forensic interviewer Geane Fellers. The videotaped testimony may be admissible in court, thus sparing the child from facing perpetrators.