Walk raises money for Nights of Safety

Yellow Brick House’s 2024 Break the Silence – Step in My Shoes Walk raised nearly $78,000 in support of its Nights of Safety program.

The annual intimate partner violence awareness walk raises funds to support unfunded shelter beds at Yellow Brick House, which provides services and prevention programs for women and children fleeing violence and abuse.

“The walk, during November, Woman Abuse Prevention Month, was an opportunity to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV), which has reached epidemic proportions in Canada, with one in every three Canadian women living in an abusive home with her children,” says Yellow Brick House CEO Lorris Herenda.

Held Sunday, Nov. 3 at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, the walk drew 271 supporters and raised money through sponsors and individual and team donations. In addition to the walk, a ceremony was held to honour the lives lost to domestic violence this past year.

“The Break the Silence, Step in My Shoes Walk is about supporting survivors of GBV, increasing awareness of the insidious impact of GBV and to honour and remember the 52 women and children that lost their lives to it in the last 10 months in Ontario. We are incredibly grateful to all the individuals and sponsors that participated and committed to support our lifesaving services and prevention programs,” Herenda says.

“By walking we not only celebrate their strength, but we also show women and children that they matter, that we as a community care and make their safety a priority. We show them that we are walking towards eradicating violence against women and children.”

Photo of signs from the recent Break the Silence, Step in My Shoes Walk courtesy of Yellow Brick House.