FORT WALTON BEACH — Child sexual assault survivor and advocate Lauren Book, among others, will walk the panhandle Thursday, April 16 during her sixth annual “Lauren’s Walk."
The walk begins in South Florida and ends 1,500 miles later on the steps of the Florida capital in Tallahassee, where Lauren will lobby for sexual abuse legislation. The event, sponsored by Bridgeway Center, Inc., coincides with National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
A $10 advanced registration fee — paid at www.laurenskids.org — covers the cost of a T-shirt, sports band and lunch. On-site registration costs $15.
The walk through Okaloosa County begins at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Navarre; stops at Bridgeway Center Inc.’s Soundside Wellness Consultants, 205 Shell Ave., Fort Walton Beach; and heads to the Children's Advocacy Center in Niceville.
A reception for walkers will be held 12:15 p.m. April 16 at Bridgeway's Soundside Wellness Consultants. Light refreshments will be served.
Donations will be accepted for Bridgeway Center’s Child Abuse Prevention Team, which coordinates with Child Protective Services for children in Okaloosa County. Services are also provided with assistance from the Guardian Ad Litem program, Families First Network in Pensacola, Family Support Services and Bridgeway's Family Care Unit.
Call 376-5386 for more information.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's how you can walk the Panhandle to raise sexual assault awareness