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More than 100 Take a Stand - or a Walk - against Domestic Violence to Kick-off White Ribbon Campaign

Sophia Morris/WAER News

More than a hundred supporters rallied and chanted together today in support of Vera House and its efforts to combat domestic and sexual violence. Survivors are telling their stories to illustrate the need for the annual White Ribbon Campaign.

Wanda Marshall found herself a victim of date rape… and faced the trials of domestic violence all on her own.

“When I became a Mary Kay consultant we work in support of Vera House by giving grants to them.  It’s just my way of giving back and helping other women know there is help out there and there is support that they can and will get through it.” 

Today Wanda is a survivor and was proudly dressed in white to support the campaign’s goal to create awareness to the community. 

Credit Sophia Morris/WAER News
No Excuse for Abuse is the White Ribbon Campaign's theme. It could be heard as marchers chanted during a campaign event Friday that started at Clinton Square

Many victims of sexual and domestic violence are left with emotional – and physical – scars.   Plastic Surgeon Dr. Douglas Halliday provides victims with unique services to help in the healing process.

“I’ve been affiliated with Vera House; I’ve been a past White Ribbon Chair myself.  What we do, we provide pro-bono services, me and my partner, to people that have been battered as a result of domestic violence.”

Halliday and his surgical team sponsored the event, donating five-thousand dollars to the White Ribbon Campaign. This contribution will help Vera House fund services such as counseling at the shelter and educational programs.

The 22nd Annual White RIbbon Campaign Events:

  • March 4th - White RIbbon Campaign Kick-Off Walk: 
     
  • March 11th: WRC night at the Syracuse Crunch Game!  7 PM at the War Memorial.  $2 of each ticket to benefit the White Ribbon Campaign. Various packages are available.  Click HERE for details.
     
  • March 18th: UNO "Dough Raiser" all day at UNO in Destiny USA.  20% of your bill donated back to the White Ribbon Campaign.  Get your "Dough Raiser" Coupon HERE.

Credit Sophia Morris/WAER News
The White Ribbon Campaign garners plenty of community support. This year it extends the entire month of March

Vera House Communications Director Chris Benton and a group of volunteers organized the march and decorated city streets with white ribbon.

“We hope to see the community wearing the wrist bands in support of Vera House and raising awareness for domestic and sexual violence.”

Today’s walk marks the beginning of the campaign, but ribbons and wrist bands will be available through the end of the month.  This will be the first year that campaign lasts the entire month of March.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.