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Team Shaw members run to combat sexual assault

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicole Sikorski
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  More than 300 Team Shaw Airmen, Soldiers and dependents participated in a Sexual Assault Awareness run at the fitness center annex, April 26.

The three-mile run kicked off the Comprehensive Airmen Fitness day here at Shaw Air Force Base.

The run was held to show military support of victims of sexual assault, instead of shielding attackers.

The Sexual Assault Response Program collected donations for the local women's shelter such as pillow cases, paper plates, plastic utensils, blankets, cleaning supplies, toiletries and hygiene products.

In hopes to make victims feel comfortable about speaking out about these traumatizing experiences, Shaw holds a Sexual Assault Awareness Month during April.

"We have a lot of people who join the military that have experienced assault as children, and haven't been comfortable enough to speak with anyone about it," said 1st Lt. Alexandra Nichols, 609th Air Operations Center, Detachment 1, deputy chief of intelligence. "It is important that they have the help they need available to them."

Sexual assault is not just an issue occurring with female victims, it can also happen to men.

"We want all of our people to be treated as professionals," said Cynthia Evans, 20th Fighter Wing Sexual Assault Recourse counselor. "There is no room anywhere in the military for a crime like sexual assault."

Along with the run, there were several information booths at the base exchange, the Chief Emerson Dining Facility and at the deployed spouses dinner, that brought awareness about the Sexual Assault Awareness Month.