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Rebecca Carr is calling on the community to join her on August 23 for a Taking Back the Trails Community Walk around the Boulevard Lake loop in Thunder Bay, Ont.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Carr has recently been in the area, the walk will be her first time on the trails since she was attacked on May 7 during a morning run around the lake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
LISTEN | Rebecca Carr: Boulevard Lake Incident:<\/p>\n
Superior Morning8:10Rebecca Carr: Boulevard Lake Incident<\/p>\n
A recent assault involving a runner at Boulevard Lake in Thunder Bay has sparked conversations about how to stay safe on recreational trails.Hear more from the woman who\u2019s sharing her personal experience in hopes of helping others stay safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel stronger when I\u2019m with people. So I\u2019m ready and I\u2019m looking forward to it. I\u2019m looking forward to getting back to it. I just haven\u2019t put a timeline on it. So the walk\u2019s a perfect date,\u201d Carr said.<\/p>\n
Although she can\u2019t exactly speak to her rescuers\u2019 experiences, she said, when she kept thinking about how she was seen, in her heart, she knew that what she was or wasn\u2019t wearing at the time had a little bit to do with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the last minute, in my head, I was like, \u2018It\u2019s cold out. I\u2019m going to grab my purple hat.\u2019 Otherwise I would have put on my black hat and been completely in black,\u201d Carr said, noting how she was also wearing a loose-fitting large black sweater and black pants at the time.<\/p>\n
After the incident, she said she remembered feeling grateful to have been rescued and couldn\u2019t help thinking about how she had been cared for that day.<\/p>\n
LISTEN | Rebecca Carr: Taking Back the Trails Community Walk:<\/p>\n
Superior Morning8:46Rebecca Carr: Taking Back the Trails Community Walk <\/p>\n
Back in May, Thunder Bay’s Rebecca Carr was attacked while out for a morning run around Boulevard Lake here in Thunder Bay. \tNext month, she’ll head back to the trail for the first time since that day…and she’s inviting you to join her.\u00a0 She tells us more about the campaign, the walk and the little purple hat that has become its symbol.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to keep thinking about other people in the community and about feeling seen and feeling safe,\u201d Carr said, noting how the idea to partner with Ungalli Clothing Co. to create a purple hat called \u2018Taking Back the Trails\u2019 stemmed from that goal.<\/p>\n
She had always followed a lot of Ungalli\u2019s work in Thunder Bay and knew they were very community-based, Carr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I thought about this community initiative, they popped up in my mind, especially as a woman-led business. I reached out to them about it and I\u2019m not even sure at that time I had the proper thoughts or the proper words for what I was trying to say,\u201d Carr said.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, after meeting with Ungalli’s co-founders, and having conversations, Carr said, they completely supported her the whole way and the initiative took off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey kind of became my voice through the experience\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve both spent countless hours walking around Boulevard Lake and it was impossible not to picture ourselves, our moms, sisters, our friends or one day even our daughters in that same situation. It really hit home,\u201d said Hailey Buosi, a co-founder of Ungalli, in a media release.<\/p>\n
Bree Hollinsworth, also a co-founder, agreed in the release that every woman should be able to go for a walk, work out, clear her mind, spend time with her family or enjoy being outside without feeling afraid.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hearing more and more stories like this in our community, so helping to organize this walk felt like a way to show Rebecca, and all women, that her community cares, that she isn\u2019t alone and we\u2019re standing beside her,\u201d Hollinsworth said.<\/p>\n
Despite having a lot of support, which Carr was extremely grateful for, she said it led her to believe the initiative was worthwhile and there was currently significant fear in the community about using recreation trails.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s stuck with me because I didn\u2019t want this experience to continue, letting people have fear in using our trails,\u201d Carr said.<\/p>\n
No need to register, show up and join<\/p>\n
The Taking Back the Trails Community Walk will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping that we have a lot of people in purple hats that day because I think it will just really strengthen the initiative, but there\u2019s no pressure and ultimately we just want the support of the community,\u201d Carr said.<\/p>\n
Carr said they also have a donation people can give at that time and they will receive a bib to be officially part of the walk.\u00a0<\/p>\n