Rise up walk reaches finish line, concert kicks off

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The first year he had hoped to reach Regina but soon realized how difficult it really was, with only him and a friend making the trek.

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“Last year, we started talking about it again and we went to Saskatoon and it was so much easier, we had so much more support,” said Burns. “I figured this year, it’s time to do it again– to do it right–so we ended up walking from Prince Albert to Saskatoon to Regina and walked to the legislation building.”

“Honestly, we wanted to keep going,” he said laughing.

Overall, Burns said the walk ended up being an amazing experience.

“Along the way, a lot of people started sharing stories with us,” he said. “A lot of people started supporting us.”

“A girl inboxed me on Facebook and she said, ‘I’m in an abusive relationship right now. What you’re doing and following your story is giving me strength to eventually, one day, leave this abusive relationship. I’m going to leave this because of you guys.’”

A lady who walked the entire way with them told Burns her son had expressed how proud he was that she was doing the walk.

The fact that people have reached out to Burns in such a way, and have taken steps to heal, cannot be matched, he said.

“It’s encouraging,” said Burns. “You know you’re making a difference and that’s the point; that’s why we’re walking.”

Since the movement got going in Prince Albert on Tuesday May 19, it has really taken off.

“We’ve had people in California post pictures of Rise Up,” he said. “And that all started here.”

Their movement includes self-defense seminars and a social media challenge where people write ‘Rise Up’ on their hand and post a picture, or make videos declaring their support of women in need of help.

Beyond this, Burns said they want to offer emotional support, encouragement to leave abusive relationships and education on what abuse is.  

“A lot of times abuse is swept under the rung,” said Burns. “Here at Rise Up and the Walk of Hope we want to try and make it easier to deal with.”

“The more we talk about it the easier it is to deal with and more people are going to come forward and support each other.”

According to Burns, it takes someone facing abuse seven times to leave, statistically.

“A lot of it is no supports,” he said. “They don’t know who to turn to, how to deal with it.”

Burns said they want to see the expansion of support groups for people facing abuse and they hope for more women’s shelters, as he said there is only one in the city.  

“When the Rise Up concert finishes we’re still going to continue to come up with ideas and concepts,” he said.

Rise Up concert

The Rise Up movement continues with one last event today. It started at 8 a.m. with a pipe ceremony at Kinsmen Park.

“We asked for prayers for all the women dealing with abuse,” said Burns. “We’re hoping that they heal and grow and overcome abuse in their lives.”

The kick-off was held at 11 a.m. with opening ceremonies including prayers, speeches and drumming. Noon marks the start of an all-day concert with 35 different acts performing until about 9 p.m.

“We’re going to try and do a little bit of everything today,” said Burns. “It’s just a start, because we’re going to do it again next year and the next year after that.”

“It’s just going to get bigger because the issue is not going to go away.”

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha