Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Walk-A-Thon on Camp Foster

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- In an effort to bring members of the military community together to raise awareness and to reduce future sexual assault among all, civilian employees, service members, and their families with Marine Corps Installation Pacific Headquarters and Support Battalion conducted the first Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Walk-A-Thon on Camp Foster, May 27-29.

The run saw over 3,400 laps completed, translating to over 870 miles from 27 - 29 May.

The Department of Defense encourages military communities to raise awareness and promote the prevention of sexual violence through special events and public education.

“The significance of holding this event is that it raises awareness by getting people out and about to work together as a team,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas Heinsohn, the H&S Bn. lead victim advocate. “Doing such a big event in this nature encourages people to come together, and it gets the attention of everyone around us.”

The Walk-A-Thon had three scored team events. The team with the highest combining scores won a prize.

The score included the number of laps completed by each team member, creativity in the shirts worn, and best poster created.

The MCIPAC isolation team (second watch) finished in first place with 283 laps around the track.

“Today's event is important to me because as a community we need to understand what consent is, and today's event is a way to spread that awareness,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. April Delacruz, captain of the H&S BN team. “Sexual assault is real, and it happens even today. This topic isn't going away, and it will continue to be brought up and faced head on.”

Around the track, signs with information in regards to the SAPR program were places for all to see, so the runners could actively gain and share knowledge during the event.

“This event helps spread to the community that the Military cares about sexual assault prevention and response,” said Heinsohn.

The mission of the DoD’s SAPR program is to promote military readiness by eliminating sexual assault and ensuring excellence in victim advocacy and prevention efforts through the execution of SAPR policy, planning, and oversight across the DoD Community.