As sexual assault awareness month of April quickly approaches, the Run for Hope 5K event at Dickinson College aims to raise awareness of and rally support for victims of sexual assault.

Clara Childers ’18, the primary student organizer of the event, hopes the run will bring awareness to the plight of sexual assault victims and inspire those that have been affected by sexual assault to seek out resources for recovery.

As of print time, approximately 200 students were registered for Run for Hope. While this number is slightly less than the previous year, Childers says that the organizers hope to register at least 350 participants and raise approximately $2,000 by April 3rd. All of the proceeds that are raised through the event will go directly to the YWCA to support services such as counseling, preventative education programs, medical and legal advocacy and a 24/7 hotline for victims of sexual assault and rape. Childers wanted students to know that “their $15 [registration fee] is going to go farther than they could have ever imagined.”

First started in 2015 by Carson Koser ’15 in conjunction with Kelly Wilt, director of the Prevention, Education and Advocacy Center and assistant Title IX coordinator and the Greek women of Dickinson College, the Run for Hope is gaining momentum in its quest to increase peoples’ understandings of sexual assault. The event has received support from various student groups, coaches and faculty across campus. Childers has taken over Koser’s role as the primary student organizer and leader of the event, and she is confident that the event’s message is one that will be heard.

“The most pressing and important thing is just starting the conversation,” stated Childers. There are so many misconceptions about sexual assault and sexual assault victims and…this event is meant to spread the right words and the right message.”

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 16 men experience some form of sexual assault while in college, and between 80 to 90 percent of these sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report their assaults. As sexual assault continues to be a pressing problem on college campuses across the country and takes on a larger role in media and politics, Childers noted that it is time for schools such as Dickinson to start increasing awareness.

“It is so important that people are aware of the fact that this is an issue happening now and happening here and across the country…it takes more than just a 5K, it takes people thinking and acting,” Childers said.

This year’s Run for Hope will take place on Saturday, April 3 at the Kline Athletic Center. It will include an option for either a 5K run or a 2K walk, and registration begins at 12 p.m. with the race beginning at 1 p.m. The registration cost for those that register before April 3 will be $15, and registration on April 3 will cost $20. Registration at any time includes a T-shirt.

Community members can also get involved and support the cause by donating to the Run for Hope GoFundMe page or by volunteering for the event. Those who wish to volunteer can e-mail Childers at [email protected] for more information.

The run is co-sponsored by Dickinson College’s Wellness Center, the Office of the President, the Women and Gender Resource Center, the Prevention, Education, and Advocacy Center, the Office of Leadership & Campus Engagement, the Dean of Students Office, the Interfraternity Council, Molly Pitcher Brewery in Carlisle and individual GoFundMe contributors.

“This is an event for everyone,” Childers said. “You can feel the energy that the run creates… It is going to be a fun event!”