While the Seattle Mariners are on the road in Chicago on July 15^th, over 1,500 runners and walkers from around the country will fill Safeco Field for the Goodwill Refuse To Abuse® 5K. This unique event is the only 5K that uses Safeco Field as its course. Participants will have access to every level of the ballpark, from the view deck to the players' tunnel to the final lap around the field. The event builds on a 21-year partnership between the Mariners and the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) on the Refuse To Abuse® violence prevention campaign.
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
One in three teens report that they have experienced some kind of abuse in their dating relationship. Research conducted by the Washington State Domestic Violence Fatality Review found that victims turned to family and friends for support earlier and more often than the legal system. Every participant at the Goodwill Refuse To Abuse® 5K learns about healthy relationships and how to help loved ones who are being abused.
Refuse To Abuse® is not only a public stand against domestic violence, it helps raise awareness of the prevalence of the issue and gives community members a way to get involved. "The Goodwill Refuse To Abuse® 5K is a great opportunity to come together to celebrate community and work toward a violence-free world," said Nan Stoops, Executive Director of WSCADV. "We're deeply grateful to the Seattle Mariners, their fans, and all the amazing volunteers and participants that make this event possible."
While fundraising is not required of participants, many are doing so to support WSCADV's violence prevention efforts across the state, including work with teens and youth engagement. In the first five years of the 5K, we've raised more than $500,000.
Every 5K participant will receive a race shirt, finisher's medal, information on how to help a friend who is in an abusive relationship, and a coloring book of the Love Like This cats showing how-and how not-to have a healthy relationship.
In addition to the generous support of the Seattle Mariners through the team's non-profit foundation Mariners Care, event sponsors include title sponsor Seattle Goodwill and support from Sound Publishing and Council 28 AFSCME Washington Federation of State Employees.
About Refuse To Abuse®
Refuse To Abuse® is a 21-year partnership between the Seattle Mariners and the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence to promote healthy, respectful relationships. Print, radio, and television public service announcements are produced featuring prominent Mariners players and managers, reaching hundreds of thousands of Mariners fans. This year's campaign features Felix Hernandez, Kyle Seager, and Scott Servais, and receives in-kind support from the marketing firm Craters of the Moon.
About the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Founded in 1990 by survivors of domestic violence and their allies, the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) is a non-profit network of 68 domestic violence advocacy programs across the state of Washington. WSCADV improves how communities respond to domestic violence and works to create a social intolerance for abuse. Their work includes research, training and technical assistance, producing educational tools, promoting domestic violence awareness, and public policy advocacy. To learn more, please visit wscadv.org.