The Community Welcome House Domestic Violence Shelter is announcing the 2nd annual Stop Domestic Violence 1 Mile Walk/ 5K Run on May 26.  The event will be a fund raiser for the Community Welcome House of Coweta County and will begin at 8 a.m at the First Baptist Church of Newnan, just off the Courthouse Square in downtown Newnan.
 
The courses travel through some of the most scenic areas in downtown Newnan and will accommodate both walkers and runners. Awards will be given out for all age groups in the 5K run. The cost of registration is $25. All participants will receive a specially designed “Stop Domestic Violence” tee shirt as well as post race refreshments. Registration on-line can be done at www.signmeupsports.com  and applications can be picked up a many local merchants or downloaded from the website at www.communitywelcomehouse.org .
 
Community Welcome House serves as a transitional facility which provides shelter for families in need.  In addition to room and board, we assist our guests with medical care, child care, counseling, financial assistance, vocational training, employment, permanent housing and services as needed. It is the hope of Community Welcome House that through education, compassion and action women will become empowered to advance their roles, rights and well being.
 
Domestic Violence begins in the home. It comes in the form of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. A woman is abused every 9-15 seconds. Three fourths of domestic violence victims surveyed had one or more children under the age of 18 years of age. 26% of murdered women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends. 30% of women in emergency rooms are there because of injuries from abuse. Medical expenses caused by domestic violence in the U.S. totals between 3-5 billion dollars annually. Children are present during 80% of the assaults against their mother. 25% of domestic violence victims are pregnant at the time of the abuse.
 
Help us fund this very valuable local social service by walking or running to support the Community Welcome House on Saturday, May 26.