Athletic event to raise awareness about child abuse

Fundraiser will aid child abuse victims
Kinton, Jami. Mansfield News Journal, March 31, 2007, pg. A3.

MANSFIELD -- Richland County Children Services began its annual Swim, Bike and Run event at 4 p.m. Friday and will keep rolling until 4 p.m. this afternoon.

The 24-hour event is taking place at the Mansfield Area Y in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

Participants had a choice of swimming, biking or running for one hour -- though some decided to surpass the initial requirement.

"This event is important simply for the children," said Carol Rissler, executive director of Children Services, who walked for an hour. "It's always for the children."

Social worker Jen Lovra was one of first to start the event at 4 p.m. in the pool, but didn't stop there. She also biked an hour on the Richland B&O Trail, had her husband pick up her bike and spent the last hour running back to the Y.

"I do mini triathlons, so I'm used to all this," said Lovra, 32. "But with that aside, people need to understand that child abuse is taking place all the time. This is a fun way to make people more aware that we need to protect these children. I think the whole community should get involved."
Children Services Communications Supervisor Greg Kahl said the event isn't to raise money, but to raise awareness of the victims of child abuse, neglect and dependency.

"We had some $100 donations from corporate supporters, and this will go to our auxiliary programs," Kahl said. "The need to raise awareness is always there and we try to increase it every year."

Kahl said the auxiliary board serves children in a variety of ways, including buying needy youngsters gifts at Christmas, giving out backpacks in the fall and organizing "Shop with a Cop."

For this year's event, 72 people are participating, trying to top last year's combined 548.25 miles.

Carla Sluss, 50, is a member of the auxiliary board and participated in the event by biking.

"If you could just hear the stories of what some of these kids go through, you would know how much the auxiliary program is needed," Sluss said. "(Swim, Bike and Run) is such a good and important cause."