Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center invites residents to join Lauren Book on the Gainesville stop of her walk across Florida to raise awareness about sexual violence.  She is walking in Gainesville on Thursday, April 11, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., beginning and ending at Gainesville City Hall (200 East University Ave., Gainesville).

The walk is approximately six miles, with a 30 minute stop at Squirrel Ridge Park (1603 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville) for a rally, rest, and refreshments.  Lauren Book and local prosecutor, Deborah Hunt, will speak about the work communities can do to reduce victimization and support survivors.

Lauren Book is a survivor and outspoken advocate of survivors’ rights in Florida. She will end her walk in Tallahassee to meet with lawmakers. This is her fourth annual walk across the state of Florida to raise awareness about sexual abuse.

Alachua County Victim Advocate Counselor, Laura Kalt said, “Lauren Book is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who found the courage, not just to tell her family and authorities, but to overcome the fear of telling the world.”  She continued, “It's because of courageous people, like Lauren, who speak publicly about their abuse, that we better understand the dynamics of sexual abuse and the journey survivors take to heal themselves.”

For more information, contact the Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center at 352-264-6760.