October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month across the country and this year’s campaign in Richmond County is as important as ever.

“We want to do more community outreach,” Crystal McLendon, executive director of New Horizons said. “And do what we can as a team to break the cycle.”

New Horizons: Life and Family Services urges citizens in Richmond County to take part in this month’s events to raise awareness and funds for programs and to help re-open their shelter, which shut down last year when the economy crashed.

The shelter was donated to New Horizons and due to severe cutbacks in staffing, had to be temporarily closed and people in the home had to be moved to shelters outside the county, according to McLendon.

New Horizons is a local area non-profit organization dedicated to working with the victims and families of those who have been impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault.

Beginning their campaign on Oct. 5, New Horizons will commemorate victims who have lost their lives due to domestic violence by holding a candlelight vigil commencing at Harrington Square and continue to the Richmond County Courthouse. The vigil is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. and end around 7 p.m. on the courthouse steps.

The candlelight vigil will serve as the organizations kick-off, as well as introduce the statewide theme, “Safe Families, Safe Communities”.

District Attorney Michael Parker will serve as the keynote speaker for the vigil. There will be a dedication to local law enforcement, the calling of names of each victim in North Carolina who has lost their life this year and a host of participation from others in the community.

Through Sept. 23 of this year, there have been 52 deaths attributed to domestic violence. In 2008 there were 82 documented. Richmond County was home to one fatal incident of domestic violence, according to data collected from the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

On Oct. 24, the organization will hold their “Steppin’ Out to Stop Domestic Violence” walk-a-thon at 10 a.m.

“This will help us promote Domestic Violence Awareness Month, as well as help raise much needed money by our agency to assist the victims that we serve,” McLendon said.

The walk-a-thon is a three-mile trek through uptown Rockingham, starting at the Leath Memorial Library parking lot and loop around back to the library. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 24.

People are invited to become team leaders for the event and build teams to participate. New Horizons encourages leaders to raise $100 or more from their teams members.

During last year’s campaign, approximately 50 people participated in the walk-a-thon.

“We’d hope to increase that number this year,” McLendon said. “We definitely need some team leaders also.”

Throughout the month of October, New Horizons will also begin their Domestic Violence Ribbon Campaign. They will have purple ribbons available for anyone throughout the county.

Ribbons can be picked up at the New Horizons office or can deliver ribbons to any business or organization.

Awareness is the most important factor to aiding in stopping domestic violence in the community, according to McLendon.

“It’s the first step breaking the cycle and a life free of violence,” McLendon said.

According to McLendon, last month the organization helped 59 victims and families who were victimized by domestic violence in Richmond County.

New Horizons is located at 108 S. Hancock St., Rockingham. For more information about other events, how to register or about domestic violence, call, (910) 997-4840 or e-mail at womenfolkunlimited@yahoo.com.