ORLANDO, Fla. – April marks Child Abuse Prevention Month, and one organization is taking that message across Florida.
The 11th annual “Walk in My Shoes” tour made a stop in Orlando Sunday morning, bringing together survivors, advocates and community members to raise awareness and push for prevention.
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.
“You know, from my experience and just the many, many stories that I’ve heard, it can be anybody, really,” said Phillip Muniz, a survivor. “We’re not out here just for ourselves, but we’re out here bringing awareness.”
The walk is organized by Lauren’s Kids Foundation, founded by survivor and advocate Lauren Book.
Book said while the mission remains the same, the threats facing children are changing.
“1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys may become the victim of child sexual abuse before their 18th birthday,” Book said.
She added that technology is creating new dangers for children.
“We know that one out of every five children that touch a digital device will be solicited for sex online,” Book said.
For some participants, the walk is deeply personal.
“My mom’s a survivor of it… so I also do it for her,” said Lauren Placarcé.
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.
“We are in the middle of our 1,500-mile walk across the state of Florida… we want survivors to know the resources that are available to them,” Book said.
Muniz said the goal is simple: to make sure no one feels alone.
“As a survivor, I think that’s what we’re all really doing out here… just bringing awareness to kids… to protect them,” he said.