A walk to remember

October 1, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Sisters Rebecca (left) and Stacey Trubridge take a stand against women’s violence at the annual Take Back the Night walk. Photo by Aynslee Darmon

By Aynslee Darmon & Samantha Reed

BELLEVILLE- MJ Breault proudly looks on as more than 50 women and children gather to take a stand against women’s violence. They came together in Market Square for last Thursday’s Take Back the Night walk.

Breault can remember some of the first Take Back the Night walks in Belleville when only 12 people participated.

“We weren’t even allowed to walk on the road. It’s really nice to see how much it’s grown.”

Breault has been working with the Sexual Assault Center since it first opened its doors in Belleville.

After becoming a victim of sexual assault herself, Breault became involved with Take Back the Night and has been apart of the program for 23 years.

Elise Hineman, has been involved in the program for 12 years, and now works with the Sexual Assault Center of Quinte.

Hineman is extremely passionate about how this walk spreads awareness to young women. “My main goal is to eradicate the fear that women have of walking alone at night.” she says.

Hineman continued to tell Qnet News “We should all live in a world where we don’t have to worry. It should ever even enter our minds.”

Both Hineman and Breault said “It’s never the victims fault. Nobody asks for this. But don’t be afraid to speak up, tell someone and ask for help.”.

For more information visit the Quinte Sexual Assault Center website.