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Walkers raise money for child advocates as state cuts funds
05/17/2008 09:41:14
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| Walkers wore blue beads to "Party with the Blue Kids" at Maguire's in downtown Bloomington. Blue Kids are a symbol for child abuse awareness. |
By Beth Whisman
The Children's Advocacy Center in Bloomington welcomed walkers from Springfield Friday night, taking the baton for a relay walk that takes off for Towanda this morning. The Champions for Children Walk is raising money for court advocate programs that help abused children who end up in the court system. The advocates cut down on trauma by using a team approach to gathering children's testimony. The method means an abused child doesn't have to tell a traumatic story multiple times.
Volunteer Laura Adam says she loves helping her friends with McLean County's center because she believes in their mission to help abused children.
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State budget cuts have cost the local center about 25 percent of its grant money. So, Director Judy Renner says fundraisers are becoming more important. And, she says the community has been supportive.
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The local group steps off from downtown Bloomington at 9:30 a.m. to walk to Towanda and Lexington. A Joliet group will take the next leg of the trip to downtown Chicago.
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