Harris, NY – The RISE Program at Catskill Regional Medical Center will host its 8th Annual RISE Above Sexual Assault Together Walk to raise awareness in stopping sexual assault and gender violence. The event will be held on Thursday, April 25 at the Sullivan County Government Center located at 100 North Street in Monticello, NY. Walker registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. and the event will commence at 5:15 p.m. followed by the RISE Walk. All age groups are welcome to participate in the mile long walk.
This fundraiser draws attention to the cause and services that RISE provides in Sullivan County. Walkers will be given red sand to fill in the sidewalk cracks to bring awareness to human sex trafficking and how victims often slip through the cracks while also highlighting that, together, we can take steps to interrupt the sexual exploitation of humans in exchange for money.
According to RAINN, Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, there are 321,500 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. Every 92 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. The RISE program of Sullivan County advocates for people, including children, who are or have been victims of sexual violence. It provides free individual and group counseling, as well as advocacy and the accompaniment of survivors to emergency departments, police stations and for court appearances. Through education and advocacy, the program encourages support for all survivors and works to end sexual violence.
“The first step toward ending sexual violence in our communities is to talk about it and by modeling respect for each other,” said RISE Program Manager Debbie O’Malley. “The RISE Walk is an opportunity to dispel the myths associated with sexual violence and highlight the facts while continuing to draw more and more participants of all genders every year which helps to raise awareness.”
People interested in participating in the RISE Walk can register in advance by visiting www.crmcny.org/rise-walk or by calling the RISE office at 845-794-3300, ext. 2440. Registration is $20, and walkers are encouraged to raise money by securing pledges. Pledge forms are available online as are the tools to set up personal online fundraising pages. Registration will also be open from 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. at the RISE Walk on April 25th.
For additional information, contact RISE directly at 845-794-3300, ext. 2440. The event will include raffles, recognition for the largest team, as well as refreshments. All funds raised will go directly to benefit the RISE Program of Sullivan County. The emergency hotline number for RISE is 845-791-9595.
About the RISE Program
The RISE program of Sullivan County, advocates for residents of all ages who are or have been a victim of sexual violence. RISE provides individual and group counseling, advocacy and accompaniment services to the emergency department, police station, and court appearances. Counseling and prevention education is offered to children at local schools. The Program maintains a 24-hour rape and sexual assault hotline by dialing 845-791-9595. Trained staff and volunteers provide callers with emergency crisis intervention, crisis counseling as well as information and referrals. The program also provides free educational and or training programs to schools, community and professional organizations. RISE relies heavily on volunteer help. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information on services offered, please contact the RISE office at 845-794-3300, ext. 2440 or e-mail RISE@crmcny.org.
About Catskill Regional Medical Center
Catskill Regional Medical Center is dedicated to providing quality health care to residents of Sullivan County and neighboring communities at its 218-bed main hospital campus in Harris and at the 15-bed Grover M. Hermann Hospital in Callicoon. An academic affiliate of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Catskill Regional Medical Center retains compassionate professionals who continually strive toward the hospital’s mission to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional health care. Catskill Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System (GHVHS), which is recognized by Ethisphere as one of the 2018 and 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies. To learn more about CRMC, visit www.crmcny.org.
