Walk raises awareness over child abuse

Every year hundreds of people show up to the Child Abuse Awareness Walk at Yucca Park, remembering those who have been lost to abuse and letting people being abused now know: they’re not alone.

The walk started as a way to remember baby Joanna, who died five years ago. Victims and survivors spoke to those gathered at the park, sharing their stories.

“I was adopted by grandparents and was abused from the age of 3-13, and ran away,” said Angel Harre.

Harre ended up running away from home and being placed into foster care. Now she uses her life to be an advocate, speaking and reaching out to those who have been hurt.
It was stories like hers brought these people together to find support

“Young people come up to me, older people come up to me, prior to my events I’ve had people call me or text me telling me ‘You know what? This happened to me as a child,'” said Estrellita Gomez, the event organizer and baby Joanna’s cousin.

Some families at the event broke down crying, they told us being surrounded by so many people helped with the pain.

“Not everybody is as lucky as the survivors who live to tell their stories,” said Gomez.

But it’s the survivors who give others hope, hope that helps victims go on with their lives.

“It gives me a drive to live, to help those, and to realize that there’s more people out there who need help and they just don’t know where to go,” said Harre.

If you know or suspect that any child is being abused you are required by law to report it. You can call the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400.

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