Hollywood, Fla. – In honor of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Lauren’s Kids Foundation is announcing the return of ‘Walk in My Shoes’; a 1,500-mile trek across Florida to raise awareness, educate communities, and empower survivors of child sexual abuse. The statewide awareness walk will begin on April 3, 2024, at the Southernmost Point of the U.S. in Key West and end in Panama City on April 27 —with over 20 stops along the way in partnership with Florida’s sexual assault treatment centers, children’s advocacy centers, child protection units, Bikers Against Child Abuse, local schools, and more.
Walk in My Shoes began in 2010 as a way for Senator Lauren Book, Founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, to navigate through her own healing journey – walking from the home in which she was abused more than 500 miles to the steps of the Historic Florida Capitol. Over the next eight years, Lauren’s annual trek grew to include thousands of participants walking statewide to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and honor the 42 million survivors living in the U.S. today.
“We’re so excited to bring the Walk in My Shoes back to Florida’s highways and byways – walking 1,500 miles across the state to shine a light, shatter the stigma, and educate communities to keep kids safe,” says Senator Lauren Book. “One in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will suffer sexual abuse before graduating high school – and 1 in 5 children who touch a digital device will be sexually solicited online. The statistics are staggering, but the solution is clear: 95% of child sexual abuse IS preventable with education and awareness. That’s why we walk.”
Child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic happening in every single zip code across Florida and the United States, and is one of the most under-reported victim crimes. Local sexual assault treatment centers and children’s advocacy centers often have waiting lists for survivors seeking services. The Walk in My Shoes aims to help shine a light on the important work being done at these local centers, while educating communities about prevention.
The Walk also includes stops in classrooms across the state for Lauren, a former classroom educator, to teach lessons from the foundation’s EMMY Award-winning Safer, Smarter Kids and Safer, Smarter Teens personal safety and abuse prevention curriculum programs – currently being used to educate millions of students across the country each year.
Registration is now open to participate in Lauren’s Kids Walk in My Shoes statewide trek across Florida. To find your local stop along with more information visit laurenskidswalk.org today.
