Walk For Them will begin at the Mulligans Flat Road car park in Forde. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
It’s hoped a sea of supporters dressed in pink will walk through Little Mulligans Flat Reserve on Monday (2 June) to reclaim the space where a woman was allegedly attacked by a teenager almost a week ago.
A friend of the woman, Mel Lloyd, has organised the Walk For Them event, which she said had many purposes.
“This is about supporting this wonderful, incredible woman and the person who found her,” she said.
“We want to turn the conversation to be positive, where we walk together as people, not this battle between punishment and locking people up and throwing away the key.
“The message is turning to anger and hatred, and we’d like it to be the opposite.”
The 59-year-old mother and grandmother had come to the end of her run on the Centenary Trail in Bonner when she was allegedly attacked.
Ms Lloyd said there was an “overwhelming anger” and a “strong feeling of angst” in the community.
“I think we can all agree as human beings that these abhorrent things should not be happening,” she said.
“Something, somewhere in the system is failing us.”
The walk is also about showing gratitude and recognition to the police officers, paramedics, nurses, doctors, forensic examiners, and other professionals who are confronted with such incidents yet continue to help.
“This is not something you become immune to,” Ms Lloyd said.
“This is about [my friend], the woman who found her and those who helped … we are so grateful to those people who helped that day.”
The event will act as a stand against violence in the community, in support of everyone’s right to feel safe.
“We want to reclaim the space. A place we’re meant to be safe,” Ms Lloyd said.
The event has been welcomed by the running community, which is grappling with feelings of fear, apprehension and anger.
Another woman was allegedly grabbed from behind while running in the Tuggeranong Nature Reserve in March. No arrests have been made.
A man is before the courts, accused of attacking two women walking and running on Athllon Drive, Mawson, in June 2024.
Anthony James Kenyon was sentenced to seven years’ jail in 2023 after assaulting a 12-year-old girl who had been riding her bike through Fadden Pines.
Stromlo Running Festival co-organiser Mel Bingley isn’t involved in organising the Walk For Them event, but said such campaigns were necessary to keep conversations going.
“These now aren’t isolated events … we need to cut it off at the head, and education and awareness are a great place to start,” she said.
“This can be very upsetting, but we need to remind ourselves that as a whole, the running community is strong, motivating and supportive. Don’t feel discouraged from running and connecting with others.
“This won’t stop us from doing what we love.”
Ms Bingley said she understood messages about vigilance, describing “common sense” measures that many runners already take, but described such advice as reactive.
“What is the root cause and how can we fix it?” she asked.
“Canberra is wholly safe, the majority is very safe … but you can run with a friend and still feel threatened.”
The Walk For Them event is at 10 am on Monday, 2 June, meeting at the Mulligans Flat Road carpark in Forde.
Participants have been asked to wear pink.
“That’s [my friend’s] favourite colour … we want to see as many people as possible turn up for her,” Ms Lloyd said.
“Please join us as we walk in support of everybody’s right to feel safe.”
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
