BATTLE MOUNTAIN - The Lander County Committee Against Domestic Violence's Eighth Annual Fun Run/Walk will be held Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. beginning and ending at Elquist Park. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m.
The 3.5-mile route will wind through town, said Michele Scovil, the group's corresponding secretary. The event is being held to raise awareness of domestic violence, Scovil said. October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
"It's good to encourage families to do something together and to raise awareness for our younger generation," she added.
Last year, around 120 people attended and Scovil said she wants to encourage business teams and families to get out and walk. Scovil said this is a family event and people are even welcome to bring their dogs on leashes.
"It's a great way to spend the morning, getting some exercise and spreading awareness for a good cause," Scovil said.
The fees to enter the event are $5 for students, $10 for individuals, $25 for a business or family of up to five members, and groups greater than five members cost $8 each.
Everyone is encouraged to pre-register as soon as possible. Pre-registration is at the Lander County Juvenile Department or at the Family Resource Center.
Breakfast, a T-shirt and a goodie bag are included in the registration fee. The money raised will go toward offsetting the cost of the event, Scovil said.
The committee is donating funds to the travel club at the high school to have students prepare and serve the breakfast that will consist of breakfast burritos, fruit, muffins, juice, coffee, water and hot chocolate.
For more information on the Fun Run/Walk, call Scovil at (775) 635-5745.
The Lander County Committee Against Domestic Violence is run by a nine-member board. It is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that seeks to raise awareness of domestic violence and prevent it. It has been in existence since 1986 and there are a total of 18 people involved in the organization, Scovil said.
The organization is funded through a grant from the Marriage License Fund through the Division of Child and Family Services out of Carson City. It is also funded through Newmont's Legacy Fund and by donations from local residents and businesses. Wells Fargo is also a major donor, Scovil said. It receives a small amount of funding from the Victims of Crime Act.
In addition to raising awareness, the committee also helps victims of domestic violence by providing emergency shelter, advocacy, food, clothing, counseling and some utility bill payments. In addition to the Fun Run/Walk, the committee spreads awareness by having information booths at various events throughout the year.
The committee has a hotline number for victims in Lander County to call and it is manned 24 hours a day. The phone number is (775) 635-2500.
Since 1986, the committee has helped more than 763 clients in Lander County, Scovil said. The committee is always looking for new volunteers. To join, call Scovil for an application at (775) 635-5745 or e-mail her at mscovil@bmnv.com.
In addition to the Lander County hotline, to seek help, there is the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or TTY (800) 787-3224. Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 170 languages through interpreter services.
There is also the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, www.loveisrespect.org, (866) 331-9474, or TTY (866) 331-8453, which provides help and resources, including confidential online support, for teens who are concerned about what is going on in their relationship.
Other resources provided by the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence are http://www.nnedv.org/getinvolved/dvam.html, http://www.nrcdv.org/dvam and http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/content/action_center/detail/754.
The Violence Policy Center released a study on Sept. 19, 2012, ranking Nevada as number one in domestic violence-related homicides for men killing women.
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