April has once again been recognized by both President Donald J. Trump and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson as National Child Abuse Awareness Month. Governor Hutchinson signed an official proclamation on April 1, 2018, deeming the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and encouraged all Arkansans to help raise awareness for this important cause.
To increase awareness of child abuse, Black River Technical College’s Community Connections Club and Student Government Association are sponsoring the 3rd annual BRTC Child Abuse Awareness Walk, a one-mile pinwheel walk/run, at the Pocahontas location.
The walk will take place on Thursday, April 26 at the BRTC Pocahontas location. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the RCDC Building and the walk will commence at 12 p.m. It will cost $20 to enter, $15 for BRTC students, faculty, and staff, and paid registrants will receive a free t-shirt. Additional t-shirts and bracelets will be for sale at the event and participants are eligible for a variety of door prizes.
A pinwheel garden ceremony will follow the walk/run and participants are invited to plant pinwheels in honor of the more than 6,500 Arkansas children subjected to physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation, and neglect/abandonment in 2017. The pinwheel garden also serves as a symbol of our commitment to preventing child abuse and providing a great childhood for ALL our children.
The proceeds from the event will benefit local children’s shelters. For more information, contact Rachel Koons at (870) 248-4000, ext. 4172.
