Registration for the eighth annual Race to Stop the Silence on Sunday, April 29, 2012 starting at 9am off Freedom Plaza is open. Click here for more information and registration.

The seventh annual Race to Stop the Silence on April 23, 2011 was, as always, an 8K race, 5K fun run, and 1K kids' fun run, and also provided inspirational speakers, entertainment, booths, and more. Thank you to all who made it possible.  Click on this link for hundreds of pics.

The 8K is a flat, fast course (updated course routes comnig soon) through Washington, D.C., starting at Freedom Plaza (Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 13th and 14th streets, Washington, DC 20004). The 5K is similar but shorter.

The Race has great winner awards (overall first, second, and third, and prizes in age groups -- 15-19, 20-29, 30-39,40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over), like $100 dinners at McCormick and Schmicks Seafood Restaurant and great UnderArmour gear, as well as random prizes, like massages from Robert Andrew, hoodies, and a raffle for athletic games!  All kids in the kids fun run get prizes. 

Entertainment in 2012 will be provided by Matthew McVarish, well-known Singer, Songwriter, Playwright, Actor. There are always wonderful speakers from individuals like David Didden, Mildred Mohamed, and Rhonda Begos (click here for Rhonda's wonderful words from 2011), and informational booths as well from organizaitons like ISSTD, PAVE, 1 in 6, Prince George's DSS, and Fairfax CASA. Paul Mitchell's schools are on hand for volunteering (and they will be providing something special this year) as are so many other wonderful volunteers from Kiwanis, Kohls, Safe Shores - the DC Advocacy Center and others. Media, like WTOP, ClearChannel Radio, and PBS, help us get the word out -- thank you! And we always have talented cheerleaders to perform routines and warm up the runners.

The Race is each year is accessible by car and Metro (when at Freedom Plaza, it is accessible by Metro Center -- Red, Blue, and Orange, and Federal Triangle - Blue and Orange). Metro opens at 7am on weekends. 

THANKS TO CURRENT AND PAST SUPPORTERS of the Race!  2011 supporters include: Adam and Parnters Investment Advisors, The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, Kiwanis, Kohl's, Women's Calendar/Women's Radio, WTOP, Channel 9, CocaCola, R squared design and advertising, Safeway, Giant Foods, Einstein Bagels, Breads Unlimited, The Bagel Place, Manhattan Bagels, Tyson's Bagel Market, Bethesda Bagels, McCormick and Schmick's Restaurant, Wildfire Restaurant, Road ID, Dick's Sporting Goods, Tickets by Gaby, and contirbutions from the public.

 Thank you for the information...I know that your organization has not yet extended its services here in [withheld]. The sad truth is that there are not a lot of resources available to victims and their families here. I was lucky enough to have internet access but [withheld] is a poor city and most do not. Is there any way to extend your organization here or to start one of awareness?  

The Race ads, outreach, and PSAs -- which garner substantial media attention -- are primary education and advocacy components and also help to raise funds for programming. More than 1,300 people participate in the race. Key Note speakers have included the Acting Surgeon General of the United States. Proceeds from the Race go to support programming and help community-based programming.

Tickets by Gaby, LLC, Gaby@TicketsbyGaby.com

Past supporters include (many current sponsors are repeat sponsors): Comcast, Pepsi, Ms. Foundation for Women, Calvert Bank, Headwaters Productions, Snowshoe Mountain Resort, UnderArmour, The Futures Group International, Treetop Kids, Willard Intercontinental Hotel, The Global AIDS Alliance, Southwest Airlines, Walmart, Wells Fargo, The Walking Company, Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Charitable Funds, The Sidran Institute, The Gallup Organization, Stacy's Chips, Einstein Bagels, and others.