SAFM brings back Reclaim The Run event to stand up for women’s safety

Pictured: SAFM’s Rebecca Morse in Elder Park 

The Hit Network’s SAFM in Adelaide has revived its Reclaim The Run event, this time with a broader focus on violence against women which takes place on the streets, in people’s homes and at their workplaces.

The first event in 2019 was about reclaiming women’s safety on the streets, and saw 2,000 people running together through Adelaide’s Elder Park.

SAFM said “our friends, wives, sisters, mums and daughters deserve to feel safe”.

This year’s event will take place at Elder Park on July 29, but from today, the station’s Breakfast show Bec, Cosi & Lehmo will feature guests talking about violence against women – from survivors to campaigners and those who have lost loved ones to violence.

One such victim, Jeannie, told the program about what the Reclaim the Run event means to her.

“It is very emotional,” she said. “It was amazing to think people would rally around that cause. There is a small minority of men who still think it’s okay to jeer – it’s not. It’s not ok to verbally abuse, it’s not ok to physically abuse anybody, male or female.”

Breakfast co-host Rebecca Morse said violence against women has to stop.

“This year has seen a real awakening for women ready to take on men who have been violent towards them,” she added. “Courage shown by women including Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins and many others has ignited us around the country to walk and speak for those who no longer can.

“Reclaim the Run is our way of brining women, and the men who stand beside them, together to address how to call out disrespectful behaviour, language, and violence towards women.”

Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello added: “I have two daughters and it is frightening to think they are growing up in a world where one in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.

“We encourage everyone in Adelaide to come out on the 29 July to Reclaim the Run as a show of strength and solidarity for women feeling unsafe, with the hope that we can educate men that violence against women is not ok.”

Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann said everyone has a role to play.

“Disrespect and violence against women is no joke. If you hear a mate tell a sexist joke, then you can stand up for gender equality by not laughing and letting them know that type of ‘humour’ is not acceptable.

“Calling out violence against women and supporting them is the first step. Doing nothing does harm. That is why at SAFM we want to do something, even if we help just one woman get out of a violent situation, it is still making a difference to that one woman.”

Participants can register here. The event will take place from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, July 29, with Bec, Cosi & Lehmo broadcasting live from the event.