Yokota Runs for Awareness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  More than seventy runners and volunteers participated in the April Awareness Fun Run, April 3, to kickoff Awareness Month.

Both military and civilian communities have traditionally recognized April as the month of Alcohol Awareness, Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness.

The Yokota Awareness Month Committee worked to combine these three initiatives into one month of awareness, with the goal of shining a light on abuse issues.

"Here at Yokota we are trying to have a collaborative effort to kick off all of these months and make it in to one," said Mr. Hugh Clark, 374th Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy outreach manager.

During April, the Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) Program, the Family Advocacy Program (FAP), and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Office advocate for the prevention of social problems such as alcoholism, sexual assault and domestic violence.

"We believe that increased knowledge and community involvement can lead to fewer incidents of alcohol mishaps, child maltreatment and sexual assaults," said Mr. Clark.

Mr. Clark said the run was the perfect event to kickoff the month and get the community out and involved in the first of many prevention and awareness activities.

There are eight events scheduled to take place throughout the month to help raise awareness of sexual assault, child abuse and alcohol abuse. Events like "Shake your Booty not your Baby" and the "Take a Bite out of Crime" eating contest were designed as fun approaches to serious topics.

"The donut eating contest is just a fun way of getting people involved in the awareness month," said Mrs. Tammy Hogue, 374th Comptroller Squadron budget analyst and contest coordinator.

Mrs. Hogue who is also a victims advocate added through all of these activities, the different agencies can showcase who they are and what they can do to help prevent abuse.