As organizations across Ontario mark Women Abuse Prevention Month in November, Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre in Northumberland County is heading into the month with a substantial financial boost for its programs and services that support people experiencing gender-based violence.
Cornerstone recently announced the results of its 18th annual “Walk A Mile” event, held in October in Cobourg, which raised more than $55,000 for the organization’s programs and services provided to individuals and families impacted by gender-based violence across Northumberland County.
“The money raised through Walk A Mile changes lives by providing important services and programs for women and children impacted in our community,” Cornerstone’s manager of fundraising and communications Cayne Fordham told kawarthaNOW. “Thank you to our community for your incredible generosity and continued support.”
Cornerstone’s annual Walk A Mile event is a lighthearted, family-friendly event that includes a walk through downtown Cobourg. It brings together community members in a show of support for women, children, and youth impacted by gender-based violence. This year’s event was the 18th edition of the event presented by the registered charitable organization.
As one of Cornerstone’s most impactful annual events, Walk A Mile has raised more than $608,500 over the past 17 years to help women, children, and youth access shelter, counselling, housing, and prevention programs.
“Each year, Walk A Mile is a reminder that when we work together, we can make real change for women and children in our community,” said Cornerstone executive director Nancy Johnston in a statement.
During Woman Abuse Prevention Month in November, Cornerstone is asking the Northumberland community to once again participate in this year’s “Wrapped in Courage” campaign.
Organized by the Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH), the campaign has been raising awareness of gender-based violence and working to prevent femicide in Ontario since 2013.
The province continues to experience high rates of femicide and other forms of gender-based violence, with more than 35 femicides reported by OAITH since November 2024.
“Throughout November, communities across Ontario will be coming together to show their support for (gender-based violence) survivors and their children, through Wrapped in Courage flag raisings, purple scarves, and proclamations,” Cornerstone noted in a media release.
Wrapped in Courage purple scarves and flags “are important symbols” of the courage needed by communities in supporting survivors of violence and ending the epidemic of intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, and femicide across Ontario.
“They signal commitment to ending violence in our community and let survivors know they are not alone.”
Cornerstone is now selling handmade Wrapped in Courage purple scarves. To purchase a scarf or for more information, email Fordham at cfordham@cornerstonenorthumberland.ca.
Along with November being Woman Abuse Prevention Month, November 25 is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign running from November 25 to December 10.
The campaign aims to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities by connecting the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to International Human Rights Day.
