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Two sisters in their 60s are about to walk the length of Aotearoa to raise awareness about the negative ripple effects of sexual abuse.
Libby Taylor, from Stanmore Bay, and Kate Hattaway, of Kumeu, are both sexual abuse survivors and have decided that rather than dwelling on the past, they want to use their life experiences, energy and determination in a positive way.
The women will start their 2100km journey, called the REOSA (Ripple Effects of Sexual Abuse) Walk, at Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua on October 1 and hope to finish in Bluff around mid-November.
They say the REOSA Walk is an initiative to create hope, dispel loneliness and encourage understanding by raising awareness about the effects of sexual abuse.
“These ripple effects are often overlooked, but have negative consequences that reach far beyond the survivors of sexual abuse including their whanau, friends and communities,” they say.
The REOSA Walk includes 30 supporter loop walks along the route where people can show their support for the women, as well as raising awareness and supporting other survivors on their healing journeys. These walks will cover around five to six kilometres.
There will be one leaving the Red Door Art Gallery (old fire station) in Waipu on Friday, October 7, at 9am, and finishing at Harcourts in Waipu (walking 5.1kms) and another starting and finishing at the Orewa skate park on October 9, starting at 10am (7.51km).
The REOSA team, with support from HELP Auckland, has created a handbook, Keeping Our Tamariki Safe from Sexual Harm. They say it is a resource to educate, empower and support all parents, grandparents and caregivers. There is a digital copy of the handbook on their website and the women plan to distribute the books along their walk.
Libby and Kate say there needs to be a serious change in in NZ.
“By highlighting sexual abuse in a public forum through the REOSA Walk, we hope to give other survivors the courage to speak up and start healing, and for people hearing survivors stories, the courage to listen and believe.”
Information about the walk and the supporter walks can be found here: www.reosa.co.nz/reosa-walk
