Run. Walk. Wag. Support Victim-Survivors of Domestic Violence

Women Aware invites the Middlesex County community to support its Moving Beyond Abuse 5K & Charity Walk, Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Johnson Park-Grove 4, Piscataway. This is a USATF-Certified 5K flat course. New this year is a Run. Walk. Wag. theme as Women Aware transitions to a pet-friendly emergency shelter.

“The worry of leaving behind a beloved pet is a big reason some victim-survivors choose not to seek shelter,” explained Women Aware CEO Phyllis Yonta. “We want to change that by transitioning to a pet-friendly shelter. We invite walkers and their leashed furry companions to join the fun on October 11 and help us keep survivors and their beloved companion safe and together.”

All event proceeds support free and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence and their children in Middlesex County.

Details

• Day-of registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
  • Race time is 9:30 a.m.
  • 1-mile Charity Walk begins 10:30 a.m.
• Save $10 and register in advance for $40. Race day registration is $50.
• Children age 11 and under are free.
• The event will take place rain or shine.
• First 100 registrants will receive a Swag Bag with giveaways.
• All registrants will receive a Moving Beyond Abuse 5K shirt.
• Goldenseal the Band will be performing LIVE! https://www.facebook.com/p/Goldenseal-100063713694461/
• Children’s activities
• Festive fall backdrop for family and pet photos

For more information and to register to run or walk, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/...

The need for Women Aware’s 24-hour multilingual hotline, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, children’s trauma reduction therapy, support groups, and community outreach continues to increase. Women Aware served 3,035 individuals in 2024, including 245 children.

Thank you, Sponsors (to date)

Enbridge • Kaplan Companies • Ivy Rehab • Edward Leske • Schechner Lifson Corporation • PKF O’Connor Davies

Sponsorships Available

Women Aware’s 5K offers businesses and individuals an opportunity to not only promote their brand and commitment to a safer, healthier community, but to support life-saving services to survivors in imminent danger; and support them with the social, emotional, and financial resources to build hopeful lives free of abuse.

For more information about sponsorship benefits, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/MovingBeyondAbuse/Page/Sponsorship or contact Susan Dyckman at sdyckman@womenaware.net or 732.249.4900, ext. 0428.

About Women Aware

Women Aware is the state-designated lead domestic violence agency for Middlesex County, New Jersey. For over 45 years, we have been providing comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence and their children. All of our services are free, confidential, and available to any victim regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender or gender expression, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital, military, or immigration status. We provide our clients with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives. We have continually expanded our programs to meet the diverse needs of victims through emergency shelter, legal advocacy, children’s trauma therapy, support groups, counseling and community outreach.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, call Women Aware’s free 24-hour hotline at 732-249-4504, toll-free at 833-249-4504. The Middlesex County Family Justice Center is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 100 Bayard Street, 4th Fl., New Brunswick, NJ. No appointment is necessary.