Run for Rape Prevention Education

Hi I'm Helen and I'm 24 years old.

Ten years ago at school our class was told "Girls, if you're ever in a situation when a boy tries to pressure you into having sex, start to cry, and say 'take me home now, I am going to tell my father about you'". Reflecting on this now, I am horrified that this was seen to be an appropriate thing to tell our class. Nothing was said to the boys, all the onus was on the girls and that was about the extent of the education that I (and the rest of the school) had on sexual consent.

As someone who represents the one in five New Zealand women to experience serious sexual assault or rape, I wish that the message sent to my peers that day was different.

Rape Prevention Education Whakatu Mauri is changing that message. They work with high schools to provide evidence-based sexual violence prevention programmes to promote healthy relationships and prevent sexual violence. Find out more about their work at www.rpe.org.nz and www.bodysafe.nz.

I am running a half marathon on the 4th of June to fundraise to help the amazing work they do in the community. All donations go to Rape Prevention Education.