The 12th Annual Ride Against Abuse with the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter takes off soon. The annual event helps raise awareness for domestic abuse victims and each year the ridge against abuse finds supporters of the shelter’s mission, and those connected to victims of domestic violence, gather at the AmericInn in calumet before heading out on the route.
And we come down through Lake Linden and Hubble and that way cross over the bridge down Montezuma around Sheldon. And then we’ve been going down between the ambassador and the store next to it on that corner. come around the lake shore then and end up in parking lot at Chutes and Ladders. – Mary Niemela, executive director, BKG shelter home
BKG Executive Director Mary Niemela says it’s important to bring awareness to domestic violence and to connect people with a supportive community.
I think both. Sometimes people will come up and say, well, I knew somebody in this situation or a relative of mine was, or even themselves maybe were in this type of situation. And that’s great, they’re just having a conversation with me. And then we have people who like to ride motorcycles and support a cause. And it’s been really nice. – Mary Niemela, executive director, BKG shelter home
The 12th annual ride against abuse with the Barbara Kettle Gundlach shelter home on October 6th coincides with the national domestic violence awareness month. When the community comes together with BKG, Niemala adds, people will offer ideas for other awareness events or share fundraising opportunities. Niemala says one idea she hopes to set up would screen a film that explores themes of abuse.
I think that would be an awareness too because it’s not just what we talk about and it’s not what you see in ah movies that may sensationalize it. It’s really a thing that happens in our community per capita. There’s about as much that happens here as it does in the big city. – Mary Niemela, executive director, BKG shelter home
The event is free. And BKG will accept donations to support the shelter home. The Barbara kettle Gundlach shelter home was started in 1980. It was one of the first five domestic violence shelters funded by the state of Michigan when the organization was established.
Comments