LOCAL FUNDRAISER RACES TO END CHILD ABUSE

Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center announces the third annual ‘Johnny CASA 5-miler / 5K walk’. The 5 mile run and 3.1 mile walk will be held at Lake Watch Plantation in Moneta, VA, Saturday, September 6, 2008, with an 8:30AM start. Johnny Nolen, race director and board member for the child advocacy, states "this event has proven itself as a method of engaging our community to actively become involved in being part of the solution for protecting children at risk in Franklin County." We begin preparations for the fall race in January and work through until race day. Other race committee members include: Orban Gregory, Anita Jones, H.T. Page, and Paul Workman. This year’s race sponsors include – LakeWatch Plantation (Title Sponsor), Target (Gold Sponsor), Bonbrook Building, Central Oil, Clyde Perdue, Attorney, Davis Heating & Air Conditioning, Haywood’s Westlake, McKelvey Companies, Mountain to Lake Realty, Prudential Waterfront Properties, Rocky Mount Supply, Stellar One, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Virginia Office Supply.

The 5-mile race is designed for runners of all levels. This event includes a 3.1-mile walking course if you are not a runner at heart. The goal of the Johnny CASA 5-miler run / 5K walk is to be a quality fundraiser to protect children at risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Franklin County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is one of the programs within the child advocacy center that provides intervention and treatment for children who are victims of abuse or at risk for being victimized.

Joyce Moran, executive officer of the Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center, stated, "The first two years of our Johnny CASA event has shown a steady increase in race participants, support from sponsors, and in the number of community volunteers who come out to be a part of this great event." This annual event provides us an opportunity to reach out into the community and explain who we are and what we do. Not many people realize that we worked with over a 1,000 children and adults just last year alone. 2007 was a very monumental year for the organization as the reconstruction of the Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center was underway. More space, new services, as well as our longstanding programs are now housed at a centralized site. The new center opened June 2^{nd and our grand opening will be held during the first week of October.}