4000 Sisters show solidarity and protest against women and child abuse

They came, they saw, they conquered! The fourth annual Jacaranda 94.2 1st for Women Insurance Sisters with Blisters walk took place on 28 November in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

Attracting 4000 sisters, misters, kids and dogs, the walk was heralded an over-whelming success and over R300 000 was raised for the selected charities - Men & Women Against Child Abuse and Bethany House.

The Sisters with Blisters walk kicked off the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Child campaign and encourages South Africans to take a unified stand against women and child abuse.

Celebrities including Joost and Amor, Liezel van der Westhuizen, Vanessa Haywood, Nohle Thema and Romy Titus were among the 4000 strong crowd and an elated Nico Botha walked away with the grand prize of a one week shopping spree in Paris from Trafalgar.

According to Alan Khan, CEO of Jacaranda 94.2: “The Sisters with Blisters walk is not just a fun walk, it’s a movement for social change. When Jacaranda 94.2 and 1st for Women started Sisters with Blisters four years ago, we had big dreams of turning this into a landmark event for Gauteng where we can make a positive impact in our community. Domestic violence, rape and child abuse are crimes against humanity and the thousands of people who supported Sisters with Blisters this year made a clear statement, that we as a group of people, will not sit by and watch the women and children of South Africa continue to be abused. We are making a positive difference.”

Robyn Farrell, managing director of 1st for Women Insurance concurs. “It is our hope that South Africans will extend the 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children campaign to 365 days a year, and that our men and boys understand the positive role that they have to play in putting an end to this social tragedy. 1st for Women is a company known to alleviate the plight of abused women through its charity the 1st for Women Insurance Trust and does not tolerate abuse in any shape or form!” The sponsors, Jacaranda 94.2 and 1st for Women Insurance would like to thank the Gauteng public for attending the event and taking such a powerful stand against women and child abuse.

Be sure to attend next year's event which will take place in November 2010!