Hilltown Walk and Hike to support domestic violence survivors

By Amy Porter
aporter@thereminder.com

RUSSELL — The Southern Hills Domestic Violence Task Force and the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers are joining forces to bring the community together for the first Hilltown Community Strong Walk and Hike on Saturday, Oct. 17, beginning at 9 a.m. at the AMC Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The free, family-friendly event will combine outdoor recreation, community connection, and opportunities to support local survivors of domestic violence. Donations raised during the event will benefit the Southern Hills Survivor Recovery Fund, which provides assistance to community survivors as they work toward safety, stability, and recovery.

Participants can choose between two guided hikes designed to include all ages and abilities, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. with a walk along Noble View’s All Persons Trail. The All Persons Trail is an easy one-mile walk along a gravel path that enables people of all abilities to participate and enjoy the outdoors together.

For those looking for a more advanced adventure, the group will gather at 10:45 a.m. for the Border Trail Hike. This hike covers approximately 4 miles of moderate terrain with scenic views, wooden bridges, and a variety of natural trail conditions. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on both hikes.

Donna Larocque, co-coordinator of the Southern Hills Domestic Violence Task Force, said the Hilltown Community Strong event will offer more than just walking and hiking. Community organizations will be participating and leading various activities, and there will be refreshments, raffles, and a StoryWalk.

“I’m excited. We were looking for something to do that checked a few different boxes to get the community involved. This helps us reach a bigger group for outreach and education,” Larocque said, adding, “All proceeds go to the Survivor Recovery Fund, which is exciting, too.”

Larocque said the new Southern Hills Survivor Recovery Fund is specific to Southern Hills communities, and she is hopeful the event will help fund it.

Raffle prizes will include an outfitted hiking backpack for an adult, donated by the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, which is partnering with the Task Force on the event. WMHH President Liz Massa is a member of the Task Force and a survivor of domestic violence. “We’re really excited to have them partnering with us,” Larocque said.

The Task Force is also hoping to offer a new child’s bicycle as a prize in the raffle. “We would love to accept that donation,” Larocque said. A 50-50 raffle will also be held.

The Southern Hills Domestic Violence Task Force is the oldest rural domestic violence task force in Massachusetts. The Task Force was launched in 1998 after State Police in Russell complained to town officials that there was no local help for survivors, and that responding to a domestic violence call could take up to an hour to just arrive on scene.

In 2006, the Task Force founded Hilltown Safety at Home, a domestic violence program now run by Hilltown Community Health Centers. The Task Force works with community members, including schools, healthcare providers, police and others to support survivors and educate the community in preventing domestic violence.

The Task Force is open to community members and agencies that serve in the Southern Hills communities and meets the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, contact the Task Force at southernhillsdvtaskforce@gmail.com or visit it on Facebook.

The first Hilltown Community Strong Walk and Hike is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the AMC Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Western Mass Hilltown Hikers connect people with the natural, cultural, and historic landscapes of Western Massachusetts through year-round outdoor recreation and education. For 15 years, they have hosted monthly public hikes and tours that highlight the region’s most remarkable places, including the National Historic Landmark Keystone Arch Bridges Trail and the annual First Day Hike at Sanderson Brook Falls in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The organization was founded by Karen McTaggart and Liz Massa and has grown from two hikers exploring local history to a widely recognized leader in outdoor recreation, stewardship, and heritage education. Working closely with DCR, the National Park Service, and local historians to document and protect Western Mass. history — they serve as “feet in the woods.”

See all our events, maps, blog and photos at www.hilltownhikers.com please donate, we are 100% funded by you! Join our membership community and take part in our adventures every weekend!  https://westernmasshilltownhikers.com/donate/  venmo @hilltownhikers we are certified and insured mass 501c3 non-profit organization

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