April 15th Race to Raise Funds & Awareness of the Silent Epidemic in U.S. Impacting One in Four Girls & One in Seven Boys

Stop the Silence, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to awareness about and funds to prevent and treat child sexual abuse (CSA), announced it will hold its Third Annual National Race to Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse. The race will be held Saturday, April 15, 2006, at 8:30 AM in Washington, DC, starting at Freedom Plaza, on Pennsylvania Avenue between 13th & 14th Streets NW. Safe Shores - The D.C. Children's Advocacy Center, is the local beneficiary of funds raised through the race. Funds will also be used to support broad prevention programming.

"Stop the Silence is eager to again host this important race that gives a voice and support to the victims of the horrors of child sexual abuse," said Dr. Pamela Pine, Founder of Stop the Silence. "This silent epidemic is everyone's problem, creating long-lasting and negative impacts on our society and the victims," she added. "The statistics speak volumes. Approximately 73% percent of prostitutes overall and 95% of teen prostitutes were sexually abused before the age of 16; more than 32% percent of convicted killers were sexually abused as children, 60% of teenage mothers, and 43% of runaways. The National Race to Stop the Silence helps bring the issue out to the light so that we can address this as a society."

The Race to Stop the Silence will include an 8K Race, a 5K Fun Run/Walk, and a 1K Kids' Fun Run. Race entry fees are $25 after March 15, and $30 on race day for the 8K race and the 5K run/walk. Commemorative T-shirts will be available to all entrants. To register for the race, please visit www.active.com.

This annual event has grown each year, attracting more than 1,000 people. Sponsorship support comes from the generosity of groups including the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Gallup Organization, and the Calvert Group.

Race sponsors are providing valuable prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female race winners. The first man and woman to cross the finish line will each receive accommodations for two at the historic Willard Intercontinental in Washington, D.C. and dinner - a $700 value. Other winners will receive two passes to Snowshoe Mountain Resort for skiing, golfing, mountain biking, or other choice activities - a $150 value.

The National Race to Stop the Silence was born with the assistance of many, including Sharon Simone, a CSA survivor, activist, and educator. Ms. Simone was a leading advocate for passage of the The Child Abuse Accountability Act after years of silence about childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hand of her father, a FBI agent and nationally recognized child abuse expert.

About Stop the Silence Stop the Silence is a non-profit, charitable organization working with individuals, companies, and community - and faith- based organizations in various states to raise awareness and funds to support programming, and provide technical assistance in the area of CSA prevention and treatment. More information is available at www.stopcsa.org.

About Safe Shores, Inc. Safe Shores, The D.C. Children's Advocacy Center, is a direct service nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and working directly with child victims of sexual and physical abuse in the District of Columbia. Through its child-friendly facility and multidisciplinary team approach, Safe Shores coordinates the work of medical and mental health providers, social services professionals, victim advocates, law enforcement, and prosecution officials to reduce trauma and promote healing for child victims of abuse. More information is available at www.safeshores.org.