THE EDITOR'S BOX





Wednesday, April 25, 2012

GTV NEWS: Running for Dantzler victim

Ten months afterJennifer Heeren was killed by her estranged husband, nearly a hundred people will run in her honor at the Fifth Third River Bank Run and to raise awareness on domestic violence. 

Kylene Dalton-Koons created a blog " Running For Jenny" to address domestic abuse issues and discuss the reasoning behind the team's efforts. She works forSafehaven Ministries, a shelter and last resort for families running from violence. 

Dalton-Koons' told 24 Hour News 8, she's a family friend of the Heerens, so she's running for both personal and professional reasons. 

"Jenny is a symbol of women who suffer in silence and need help," Dalton-Koons said. "[This is] a symbol of family and children's lives that are shattered by domestic violence." 

The focus of the effort is to spread domestic violence awareness. Too often, the victims remain silent, according to the shelter's executive producer, Jillaine Harkema. 

"Jenny had been living in fear for a lot of years and it ended this way," said Harkema. "That wasn't a part of the message that got out." 

The Fifth Third Run will be symbolic for the "Running For Jenny" team. 

"Sometimes the most courageous thing a woman can do is run," Dalton-Koons said. "Just leave a violent relationship." 

The Safehaven Ministries team already has more than 100 people signed up. If you want to contact them, you can find their information by clicking here . 

After four of their family members were killed, the Heerens designated the shelter as the beneficiary for their memorial gifts. 

"They're an amazing family that wants something good to come out of a horrific thing," said Harkema. "The efforts to work with us to communicate and educate the community opens the door for healing for them."


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