Run kicks of Sexual Assault Centre of Brant’s 25th anniversary celebrations

The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant kicks off its 25th anniversary year with the annual fundraiser, Lynnsie’s Run, on Sunday, May 27 at Waterworks Park in Brantford.
Lynnsie’s Run is named in memory of Lynnsie Feijo, the Sexual Assault Centre (SAC) of Brant’s first public educator, who died suddenly on June 30, 2016.
As well as being the fifth annual run, Lynnsie’s Run 2018 will be the first event to celebrate SAC Brant’s 25th anniversary.
SAC Brant’s doors officially opened on May 28, 1993. For 25 years, the centre has offered services that promote healing for survivors of sexual violence and create social change.
Staff and volunteers provide a wide range of counselling and support services at no charge to survivors of sexual violence and the people who care about them.
The community also benefits from SAC Brant’s community development work, as the centre offers leadership and resources to community partners who are working to change the conditions that allow sexual violence to be possible.
SAC Brant is partially funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Brant United Way, but relies on fundraising to offer a full range of services. Fundraising is especially important as the scope of programming has grown in the last 25 years.
From its humble beginning in 1993 with four staff members and 17 volunteers in training, SAC Brant has grown to a team of 14 staff members and 38 regular volunteers, not including those who make events like the run such a success. In 2017, Lynnsie’s Run raised $25,000, which helped to provide more than 2,000 hours of service, accompaniment and advocacy, face-to-face counselling to 500 service users.
“We are hoping to break that record this year,” said Joanna Brant, executive director of SAC Brant.
Walkers and runners of all ages and abilities can choose to run 5 km or 10 km run or walk 1 km walk on the beautiful family friendly trail of Waterworks Park.
The registration fee is $35, but is waived for anyone who raises more than $100, with prizes awarded to the biggest team and individual fundraisers. There will also be a silent auction, face-painting, a children’s craft and activity centre, and special guest appearances by Taylor the Turtle and local actors.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The opening ceremonies begin at 9:45 a.m. at Waterworks Park, 390 Grand River Ave.
For online registration, donation and sponsorship information, and downloadable pledge forms, visit sacbrant.ca/events.
For more information about the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant and Lynne’s Run, contact Jess Doroshenko at jess@wewantnomore.ca or Joanna Brant at joanna@sacbrant.ca. Both are also available by phone at 519-751-1164.