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Memorial run highlights domestic violence

Jasmine Montpetit never knew Jessica Martel or her family, but still remembers exactly how she felt when she heard the young mother was murdered by her common-law husband in 2009 in their Morinville home. “It was devastating.
Runners and walkers took part in the fourth annual run for the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation – an organization that promotes the end of domestic violence – in
Runners and walkers took part in the fourth annual run for the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation – an organization that promotes the end of domestic violence – in Morinville on Sunday.

Jasmine Montpetit never knew Jessica Martel or her family, but still remembers exactly how she felt when she heard the young mother was murdered by her common-law husband in 2009 in their Morinville home.

“It was devastating. Totally devastating for the children, the family and the town,” she said.

Her initial reaction was that “Nothing like that ever happens here,” but as the community discovered, domestic violence can happen in any community.

Seven years later, Montpetit and scores of other runners helped to raise more than $10,000 for the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation at their fourth annual fun run.

And while race organizer Laura Hennie noted the total is down significantly from previous years – the run brought in $25,000 last year – she’s not altogether surprised by the decrease.

“The timing wasn’t ideal in terms of people’s priorities for their donation money,” she said. “A lot of people have invested a lot of money into Fort McMurray relief, so I suspect that may have influenced our funds as well.”

And one way or the other, the foundation will continue to work against domestic violence in Morinville and surrounding areas.

Lynne Rosychuk, who created the foundation in memory of her deceased daughter, said while it was a relatively slow start getting the foundation running smoothly and in accordance with the myriad laws and regulations they’re now focused firmly on their original goal of creating shelter space in this community.

Typically, women fleeing abusive situations must leave their support networks behind and find shelter in urban areas – which in some cases may act as a disincentive to getting the help they need.

“It’s full force from here on in,” she said. “We’re pretty excited because that was our main goal.”

The first step, Rosychuk said, is to get a piece of land on which they can build a shelter. With the title in hand, she said it may be easier to convince sponsors to get on board and make the shelter a reality.

And she noted it’s incredible to see the support coming from the community – with about 150 runners taking part this year.

“It’s amazing to me that we have so many supporters,” she said. “There’s repeat people wanting to keep supporting what we’re doing.”

But it’s not just the usual suspects who are coming back to help out year after year; new volunteers are coming forward all the time to help make the foundation reach its goal of providing shelter space in or near Morinville.

Yvonne Friesen, who said she just joined the board last week, was unambiguous about her support for the foundation and what she believes it can accomplish for the people of this region.

“If you need shelter you’re expected to leave everything you’re familiar with, and your support system,” she said. “I think it’s important to fulfil those needs where they’re needed, not where they’re convenient for everyone else.”

Furthermore, she said she would like to see herself as thinking globally and acting locally, suggesting what the foundation accomplishes could very well set the stage.

“In rural Alberta, it would be nice to set the standard for how to support women in those situations and then see that expand,” Friesen said.

For more information about the foundation, or for help connecting to services and resources to help escape an abusive situation, visit www.jessicamartelmemorialfoundation.com.

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