Exercise to Help End Child Abuse

Woodbridge, Va. — On Saturday Oct. 15, they’ll be exercising to help stop child abuse.

The first-ever “All in Motion Day of Movement to Stop Child Abuse” runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Richard G. Phitzner Stadium in Woodbridge.

Every 30 minutes, participants on the field will change exercises from aerobics to Zumba, belly dancing and yoga. Healthy food and drinks will also be provided by local restaurants, according to the Court Appointed Special Advocates, the agency sponsoring the event.

“We would like to encourage everyone in our community to either ‘move for the cause’ and come out for a day of fitness and fun or ‘stand for the cause’ by sponsoring someone who participates. Every registrant will receive a personalized donation web page to help raise funds for this more than worthy cause. With the sponsors and participants that have already signed up, CASA has already raised over $10,000, with a month still to go until the actual event,” said event coordinator Vicki Shoemaker.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) serves the abused and neglected children of the Manassas, Manassas Park, and Prince William County areas. Started in 1994, GPW CASA has grown to be the second largest CASA program in Virginia with over 124 specially trained volunteers who work with over 450 abused and neglected and abandoned children at this time. Last fiscal year, more than 130 children were under the age of 5, and about 250 were under 10 years of age. Collectively from the 124+ advocates, more than 14,000 hours were dedicated to help ensure the safety of the child victims. The U.S. Department of Justice found in a 2007 audit of CASA programs that a child with a CASA receives more services than a child without a CASA, is less likely to return to the system re-abused, spends less time in foster care, and is more likely to be adopted. To provide an advocate to a child for one year costs about $1,200.
-Press release