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Community
Women's group walks to help violence victims
Annual RAVE event supports abuse prevention
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by EMILY BARNES
Donna Clark, left, first vice president and membership co-chairwoman of the Zonta Club, talks to Ann Rees, co-chairwoman of the club's Rape and Violence Eradication Walk at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf on Saturday.
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Although Saturday's rain stopped some county residents from participating in a walk to combat violence against women, the drizzly and cold weather didn't put a chill on their efforts.
The Zonta Club of Charles County, a women's service organization, raised more than $5,000 from donations, sponsors and bracelet sales, money that will support the Center for Abused Persons and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program.
Despite the weather, Zonta collected more donations at this year's event than it did at last year's affair, said Brenda Dyer, who helped plan the sixth annual walk. Dyer attributed the increase to her club's efforts to publicize the event.
"October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we just wanted to get the word out there," she said.
Zonta had arranged its three-mile Rape and Violence Eradication, — RAVE — Walk for Saturday morning at Regency Furniture Stadium and was also going to provide live entertainment.
While the cold and rain put a stopper on the group's plans, some people still showed up to make donations and share a breakfast provided by Chick-fil-A.
"The weather hurt us this year," said Kim Rosenfield, the organization's second vice president.
Rosenfield said she thanked donors for their contributions before they left the stadium.
Ann Rees, a RAVE Walk planner, said some people won't participate in Zonta events because they shy away from uncomfortable words like "rape" and "domestic violence." Often, donors will write checks to Zonta, but won't attend the walk, Rees said.
However, Rees said Zonta is especially in need of support now, during a recession that caused some to weed through their charities. The recession has also caused an escalation in violence against women, she said.
"If we don't help, these women are going to end up on the streets," Rees said.
The Zonta Club of Charles County is part of Zonta International, a worldwide organization aimed at advancing the status of women.
