Are you passionate about helping children? Are you also ready for the thrill of a lifetime? The Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC) invites you to go “Over the Edge” for Child Advocacy, a rappelling adventure at Stadium Park Plaza in Downtown Bowling Green. Each participant commits to raising $1,000 or more to rappel down the Stadium Park Plaza’s five stories. Helping the Center this way, climbing down these five stories, can help change the stories of children who have experienced child sexual abuse in our community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have been encouraged to stay home to protect themselves and the community. However, home is not always a child’s safe place. Many children are trapped in homes with their abusers and no protective adult to help. Stress from the pandemic is directly affecting the safety of children.
There is hope for children who have experienced abuse. The BRACAC provides services to children who have been sexually abused, including conducting forensic interviews, child sexual abuse medical examinations, therapy for the victim, and support for the victim’s family. Children CAN heal from abuse when they are heard, believed and are able to process their abuse through trauma-informed therapy.
BRACAC’s Over the Edge event raised $80,000 last year, which provided the funds to increase mental health services and to serve more children through forensic interviews. These services lead to justice and healing for children experiencing unthinkable abuse. This year, an anonymous donor is challenging our community to step up for children by generously offering to match every new dollar donated up to $10,000! Now is the time to step up for children.
On September 11th and 12th, 92 rappellers will experience a “once-in-a-lifetime” thrilling experience! No rappelling background is necessary. This event has a detailed plan on the safe execution of Over the Edge during a pandemic, including social distancing rules, mask requirements and sanitation of all equipment. Safety is always the number one priority.
Med Center Health and TeamHealth are partnering with the BRACAC again this year as Presenting Sponsors of this event. WBKO, the Partner Sponsor, continues to support the BRACAC by raising awareness about child abuse in the Barren River Region. Diversified Electrical, Inc. and Kirkpatrick Price are sponsoring the two ropes that will help participants descend over the edge.
Are you ready to sign up? Visit https://give.classy.org/OTE20 to fill out the quick, online registration. You may also visit this site to donate and support others who are going over. It might take a lot of courage to rappel down a building, but imagine the courage it takes for a child to speak up about abuse. It is time to step up to the edge!
-submitted by Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center
