Lake Waccamaw, NC – The Eighth Annual Light the Lake Walk for Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness is set for Tuesday, April 12 at Lake Waccamaw.
This special event, coordinated by the Community Based Services Department at Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, will start at 5 p.m. at 160 Rube McCray Circle.
The public is encouraged and warmly invited to participate in this free event.
“Together, we can bring awareness to the devastating reality of child abuse and neglect,” said BGHNC President/CEO Ricky Creech. “We hope that the community will show up in large numbers to join this roughly one mile walk.”
The walk will proceed down Flemington Drive and turn onto Lake Shore Drive before turning onto Cameron Street. A short walk down Church Street will bring the group back to campus. Light refreshments will be provided at the pavilion.
The annual event collaborates with Pinwheels for Prevention throughout the month of April, which is also National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“We have received overwhelming support from local and neighboring communities in the past,” said Director of Foster Care Valarie Price. “We are hopeful that support will return for this event that raises awareness about such an important subject.”
According to US Children’s Defense Funds Studies, there are more than 21,000 victims of child abuse or neglect annually in North Carolina.
“This short walk provides an opportunity to demonstrate support for all of those who have suffered abuse or neglect,” said Creech. “It also demonstrates a commitment to help them by providing an environment of care that promotes health, healing, and hope among children, youth, and families.”
For more information about the Light the Lake event, please contact Jill Courtwright at 910-646-3083 or jill.courtwright@bghnc.org.
About Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina
Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Inc., has been helping children since 1954. Since then, more than 7,500 children have benefitted from the services of the not-for-profit, 501(c)3 agency. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive array of services for children and youth who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or other family dysfunction. BGHNC offers adoption, family and therapeutic foster care, Success Coach services to prevent children from coming into foster care, and free children’s therapy, as well as residential care on the campus at Lake Waccamaw. The campus features a SACS-accredited school with a middle and high school curriculum, vocational education, recreation facilities, farm, chapel and cottage life. As many as 320 children are cared for through the residential, community-based services, and school program provided by BGHNC at any given time. BGHNC operates its program, services and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws. BGHNC is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation.
