ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 April marks Child Abuse Prevention Month, and one organization is taking that message across Florida.<\/p>\n
The 11th annual \u201cWalk in My Shoes\u201d tour made a stop in Orlando Sunday morning, bringing together survivors, advocates and community members to raise awareness and push for prevention.<\/p>\n
Participants began their walk on Michigan Street, traveling 10 miles to Winter Park as part of a larger mission to spark conversations about child abuse and support survivors.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, from my experience and just the many, many stories that I\u2019ve heard, it can be anybody, really,\u201d said Phillip Muniz, a survivor. \u201cWe\u2019re not out here just for ourselves, but we\u2019re out here bringing awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n
The walk is organized by Lauren\u2019s Kids Foundation, founded by survivor and advocate Lauren Book.<\/p>\n
Book said while the mission remains the same, the threats facing children are changing.<\/p>\n
\u201c1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys may become the victim of child sexual abuse before their 18th birthday,\u201d Book said.<\/p>\n
She added that technology is creating new dangers for children.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that one out of every five children that touch a digital device will be solicited for sex online,\u201d Book said.<\/p>\n
For some participants, the walk is deeply personal.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom\u2019s a survivor of it\u2026 so I also do it for her,\u201d said Lauren Placarc\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Organizers say the 10-mile walk in Orlando is just one portion of a much larger journey. The tour spans 1,500 miles across the state, beginning in Key West and ending in Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in the middle of our 1,500-mile walk across the state of Florida\u2026 we want survivors to know the resources that are available to them,\u201d Book said.<\/p>\n
Muniz said the goal is simple: to make sure no one feels alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a survivor, I think that\u2019s what we\u2019re all really doing out here\u2026 just bringing awareness to kids\u2026 to protect them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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