Canberra Locals run to help family and sexual violence victims through Femili PNG

Georgina Connery reports:
Pounding the pavement in their purple shirts is all good fun but a Canberra group entered in the Australian Running Festival are united by a passion to help Papua New Guinea tackle family and sexual violence.
The pacific nation is one of the most dangerous places to be a woman in the world, with an estimated 70 per cent of women experiencing rape or assault in their lifetime.
A growing number of Canberrans are doing their bit to ensure newly formed organisations such as Femili PNG, a non-profit case management service for victims, has the resources to make change from within.
Femili PNG chair Professor Stephen Howes is training to run a half marathon on April 9 and has been thrilled by the influx or runners keen to get behind the cause.
“At the moment we have 17 on the team and we aim to run $20,000 dollars,” he said.
Money raised will be directed to renovating the Femili PNG office based in the country’s second largest city, Lae, and to bolster the organisation’s expanding operations.
To donate or register and run with the team head to their website: www.femilipng.org
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/locals-run-to-help-family-and-sexual-violence-victims-through-femili-png-20170322-gv3t98.html