Mid North Coast Run Against Violence

FOUR teams from the Mid North Coast area will be involved in this year's Run Against Violence (RAV).

The RAV is conducted between August 30 and September 19 and the aim for each team is the run 1300kms in 19 days.

"Its going to be a huge effort, but were determined to complete it,'' Taree's Margie Lewis said.

"We have created four teams from our local area and been joined by a few others from Brisbane, North Coast, Adelaide and Orange. There are 20 members in each team.''

Margie, who is also the Taree parkrun run director, was inspired to take part in the event after meeting RAV founder Kirrily Dear in 2017. Kirrily, who now lives in Bulahdelah, ran from Broken Hill to Sydney in 19 days - a distance of 1300km, that year to raise awareness of domestic violence.

Kirrily isn't a victim. She was listening to a podcast that outlined the number of people killed by their partner. This had a impact. Kirrily wanted to start an event that would help raise awareness and that was the catalyst for her 1300 marathon from Broken Hill to Sydney.

In 2017, 30 runners from this area took part in the run. This has grown to 80 this year.

"Some of us are keen runners, while others have taken up walking after being inspired by the cause,'' Margie said of this year's teams.

"We have men and women aged from their 20s to 60s. Some have experience with domestic violence, either personal or through family and friends. Others simply want to make a difference in their community.''

Margie said the aim is to start conversations about domestic and family violence, to share knowledge and create a safer community.

"Family violence is in every community, and often no one is aware that it is occurring. If victims can hear regular people in our own community speaking out in support, they know there is help out there for them,'' she said.

Through her employment, first with Life Without Barriers and now Uniting, Margie has supported and counselled victims of domestic violence. She described the statistics as 'horrific'

"When I wear my Run Against Violence singlet when I'm out running I'm sometimes stopped by people who want to share their own experiences with domestic violence,'' Margie said.

"The RAV logo must indicate to people that it's safe to talk to me.''

There is a component for runners to raise funds for the cause. However, the main objective is raising awareness.