Every year, the Ride for Refuge fundraiser takes place across Canada to support charities that help people find hope, safety and freedom.
On Oct.5, two charitable organizations, Liberty Lane and Youth in Transition partnered to bring this year’s event to Fredericton for the first time, to help raise funds for women, children and youth who have fled domestic violence.
Alyson Pizzey is a survivor of domestic violence and the executive director of Liberty Lane. She shared how relevant it is to raise awareness in the community about domestic violence and the impact it has on families.
“It’s not just the funds that we’re going to raise here today. Part of this is to raise awareness of domestic family violence and the impact that it actually has on families, on children,” said Pizzey.
The Ride for Refuge events were held across 38 communities in Canada consisting of a family-friendly bike and walk on local trails The goal is to support charities that help people seeking hope, safety and freedom from domestic violence.
Ride for Refuge surpassed their fundraising goal of $20,000 and raised $23,060 in the Fredericton area. Over $1.2 million has been raised across Canada.
Pizzey said that working for a charitable organization like Liberty Lane requires passion for being a part of the solution.
“I just felt I had so much to be able to give to that, so I’ve been on my own personal journey of healing from that,” she said. “I had that understanding of what services were needed.”
Misty McLaughlin, the executive director of Youth in Transition, explained that the lack of support for mental health and addiction can cause severe stress on many families.
On top of the struggles with employment, education and maintaining homes, according to McLaughlin, the issue can be an added problem families have to face.
“That stress really places a huge burden on people and I think they reach a breaking point,” said McLaughlin. “Unfortunately you start to see it come out in the form of family violence.”
Both Liberty Lane and Youth in Transition use fundraiser money to remain operational and continue providing services to aid the community.
“Our organizations work to ensure that our youth are taught healthy relationship skills,” said McLaughlin. “Coming together for an event like Ride for Refuge allows the community to understand the issue of domestic violence in our communities.”
Jenn Hayes, the event director for Ride for Refuge in Fredericton, shared her passion about addressing the issue of domestic violence.
“I know that these organizations do such great work and they’re worthy of the support that we’re giving them with this event,” said Hayes.
Due to the success of the event in Fredericton, both organizations are thrilled to work with Ride for Refuge again in the upcoming years to celebrate and help women and youth who are recovering from domestic violence.
“It’s a dream that we wouldn’t ever need these organizations, but we do and they’re here and they need the support to be able to continue,” said Hayes.
