Sun comes out during CFJ’s Walk, brings rays of hope to victims of abuse
Monroe Police Det. Stacy Cascante was honored during the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in Downtown Fairfield last Saturday.
FAIRFIELD, CT — As rain poured across the Greater Bridgeport Area Saturday, the Center for Family Justice’s (CFJ) members and friends gathered in Fairfield to participate in the 13th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser, an event where men, some in high heels, and women team up to raise awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence.
Even children and pets joined CFJ in their walk from the downtown Fairfield train station to Fairfield Town Hall.
“The importance of this event is to raise awareness in the community about domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse, most importantly that there is free support out there, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for anyone who might be affected by this,” said Debra Greenwood, CFJ’s president, who is also a Monroe resident. “Most of the time, people don’t know that they can call a hotline, and we raise money today to support our youngest victims.”
Before the event, notable members of the community spoke, including mayor Joe Ganim of Bridgeport, State Sen. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), Fairfield First Selectman Bill Gerber and Aquarion Water Company CEO Lucy Teixeira.
Many member of law enforcement were among them, including Monroe Police Det. Stacy Cascante, who was given an award for her continued support of the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser.
Debra Greenwood, president and CEO of The Center for Family Justice, speaks before the Walk gets underway.
Finally, former participant Jay the “Ice Man” Piccirillo, who passed away suddenly on Easter weekend, was honored. Piccirillo and his Italian ice store, Micalizi’s Italian Ice, were longtime sponsors of the fundraiser and continues to support the march.
A banner honors the late Jay the “Ice Man” Piccirillo, a big support of the Walk.
Also participating in the Walk were, the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps, a local award-winning drum corps that leads the event every year. They were followed by a variety of sponsors, including Aquarion and the Sacred Heart University branch of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, along with former and current counselors and participants of Camp HOPE.
Camp HOPE is a program that for nine years has allowed children as young as kindergarten to go to a summer camp to receive assistance regarding abuse and violence. With support from the Walk, CFJ plans to send over 50 kids to the program this year.
Speakers promoted the new Men Against Violence program, a way for men to get involved in stopping domestic violence and abuse.
Rain had postponed the original date for the Walk, but CFJ was determined not to let Saturday’s early morning rain stand in their way.
“There’s power in numbers,” said Gary MacNamara, a former Fairfield police chief who is now executive director of public safety at Sacred Heart University. “These instances of violence against specifically women don’t always happen on sunny days. Our support doesn’t have to always be on the sunny days either.”
While the weather initially seemed questionable for the event, large crowds still gathered as rain began to clear and the sun began to shine, reminding survivors and participants alike that hope is always able to prevail, as they reached the Town Hall, where participants listened to a poem from a former member and future counselor of Camp HOPE.
“It’s been terrific,” said Chris Griffin, a participant from Stratford. “There’s great energy, and it’s a great coming together of everyone in the community.”
Anyone who needs assistance is encouraged to call CFJ’s 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-203-384-9559 or sexual assault hotline at 1-203-333-2233.
