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On Saturday morning, April 30 members of the community gathered to raise awareness for child abuse prevention. I’mPACT (I’m Protecting Against Childhood Trauma) organized two events that day, “Stop the Trauma” (an awareness walk), and “Bring the Thunder!” (an awareness motorcycle ride).

The walk began at 10:00am, and advocates and concerned citizens met on the Deane Center lawn, walked down Main Street and toured Asa’s Place – an I’mPACT facility that is in the process of gaining licensure as Pennsylvania’s first Residential Pediatric Recovery Center (RPRC).

The walk continued down Main Street and returned to its starting place where motorcyclists gathered for “Bring The Thunder,” – the day’s second event. Many bike clubs from around the area attended and rumbled down Main Street in support of the cause.

“My biggest hope for the day is that as a county-wide community we start talking about the issue, instead of hearing it in a data point once a year,” said organizer and CEO of I’mPACT Robin Adams. “There are so many things we can do proactively to prevent trauma to begin with. By doing a better job of keeping our kids safe, and by educating parents what to look for and how to keep their children safe. By partnering with the education and healthcare community, we can really turn the tide on what we’re experiencing here pretty quickly.”