Participants secure spots for ‘Commit to Community 5K/10K’ benefiting SAFE program in Bangor

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - One of the only programs in the state that has a 24/7 Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner or SAFE program is in Bangor.

Every year, St. Joseph’s Hospital hosts a community event to sustain the support of specialized, compassionate care for survivors.

Participants of the Commit to Community 5K/10K walk or run picked up their numbers and t-shirts throughout the day.

The race will be this Sunday, Sept. 28, starting at Broadway Park in Bangor, with pre-registration beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Organizers also included a Kids Obstacle Course, and the events will start at 8:30 a.m.

The race director said whether you’re a participant, volunteer, or someone who continuously donates to the program, it takes a village to keep this program going as the demand for services continues to rise.

“It’s really important for this area, for not just Bangor but really Eastern Maine and I’d like to think New England as a whole has service like this,” said Ryder.

All proceeds from the event go straight to the SAFE program which has made it possible for round-the-clock coverage.

“Knowing that we are here 24/7 is really important to our community,” said Meg Shuman, a SAFE nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “There has been a very large spike in violence in the state. Last year we helped out 865 survivors. That’s 13% more than the previous year. We’re already seeing this year a 30% increase so we are set to help potentially over 200 survivors this year.”

The nurses provide one-on-one medical care, immediate connection with an advocate, referrals, and treatment for medical consequences of assault.

To learn more about the race and program follow the link.