Frankfort, YWCA Greater Lafayette Proclaim October As Domestic Violence & Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets alongside members of the YWCA of Greater Lafayette and the community gathered at Prairie Creek Park yesterday, Oct. 2 to proclaim October as Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Alongside speeches and resources from YWCA staff regarding the work that has been completed through the organization for the region geared toward raising awareness and solving issues surrounding domestic violence and breast cancer, Sheets officially declared the month of October as a month to raise awareness for the issues in Frankfort.

Sheets’ proclamation read:

Whereas, the National Network to End Domestic Violence theme is Every 1 knows Some1 for 2024 domestic violence awareness month; and

Whereas, the World Health Organization theme for breast cancer awareness month is No one should face breast cancer alone; and

Whereas, 1 in every 3 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime, and approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year, affecting our communities at large; and

Whereas, 1 in 8 women and 1 in 833 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime and anyone can be at risk for breast cancer even if there is no family history or other risk factors for the disease; and

Whereas, Domestic Violence victims can be of any age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or economic status and the resulting damage is inflicted not only on the victims, but their children, families and communities; and

Whereas, the screening and early detection of breast cancer are vital to the health and well-being of Indiana women; and

Whereas, City of Frankfort has a moral obligation to work to prevent domestic violence, address its brutal and destructive effects and make ending domestic violence a local priority and we dedicate ourselves to protecting vulnerable members of our community; and

Whereas, YWCA Greater Lafayette’s Women’s Wellness Program has removed barriers to breast cancer screenings, making services accessible for 30 years and that need continues; and

Whereas, The YWCA Greater Lafayette’s Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program has had constant demand for advocacy services and space in its emergency shelter for 45 years and that need continues;

Therefore, we proclaim October Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness Month and

I, Mayor Judith Sheets, urge all citizens to actively support the YWCA Greater Lafayette’s Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program and Women’s Wellness Program not only during October but throughout the year in a collective effort to end breast cancer and domestic violence remembering that everyone knows someone and no one should face cancer alone.