Jo Warren is heartened that people are prepared to listen when she talks about a tough topic.
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Ms Warren is helping to organise a community walk to help women and children who are trying to rebuild their lives after escaping horrendous situations like domestic violence.
It’s a tough subject and Jo said the community’s desire to help was strong and she was building on the strength of last year’s inaugural walk.
This year’s walk is on Saturday, August 11.
Wakers are raising money and showing support for SAHSSI (Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra).
People will walk 30 kilometres from Huskisson’s White Sands Park, from 9am, to Booderee National Park and back.
However, if 30 kilometres is too hard then walkers can stop whenever they like.
SAHSSI’s Shoalhaven manager Lesley Labka said the organisation always try to find extra money to help those in need however the support from the community means just as much as the extra funds.
“About 90 per cent of the women we support are on a pension and so they are living on or below the poverty line. That means everything is expensive for them,” Ms Labka said.
“What was wonderful too was to raise awareness within the community, that if anybody encounters domestic violence, maybe not to them, but to a neighbour, a friend or a relative they can say to someone - ‘get in touch with SAHSSI they will be able to help you’.
“Domestic violence, women's homelessness, drug and alcohol and mental health are not happy subjects but turning it into a community support event to help people get out of where they are at was beautiful.”
To sign up for the walk go to go to https://www.sahssi.org.au to sign up or www.facebook.com/events/385071678569777/ to get more information.
Walkers are asked to wear purple and orange, SAHSSI’s colours, on the day.
Ms Warren said at the end of the day the walk was all about supporting people in need.
“If people look at their own lives and recognise they have the capacity to help others in such a small way, then what a beautiful way to do it,” she said.
“The energy around this community event last year was something very special.
“It’s something special to push yourself that 15 kilometres and take a breath and turn back.”
Ms Warren said the walk’s physical demands could not compare to the pain that women and children in crisis face.
This year’s route will once again take in the Jervis Bay scenery with more bush track and less walking on the sand.
The Huskisson CWA members will be again providing fabulous cakes and slices to keep the walkers going.
Related: What SAHSSI does
SAHSSI gets funding to help 268 women a year but exceeds that by 20 to 30 per cent, so it's more like 400 women the organisation supports.
In their core business, they help 70 women at a time, along with the 24 hours domestic violence service which can accommodate eight women and children.