Harrow hosts walk-a-thon in memory of Carly, Madison, and Hunter Stannard-Walsh

Many took part in a walk-a-thon at the Harrow Soccer Complex in memory of Carly (41), Madison (13), and Hunter (eight) Stannard-Walsh, last Saturday. Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

As  part  of  November  being  Women’s  Abuse  Prevention  Month,  Hiatus  House  invited community members to participate in  a  3.5k  walkathon  around  the  pathway  at the Harrow Soccer Complex in memory of  Carly  (41),  Madison  (13),  and  Hunter  (eight) Stannard-Walsh, who passed away due to a case of intimate partner violence in June.

Donations     collected     through     the     event  will  support  Hiatus  House  and  its  transitional  housing  project,  where  a  unit  will be named in their honor.

Sylvie  Guenther,  Executive  Director  of  Hiatus  House,  thanked  all  those  who  attended the Stannard-Walsh walk-a-thon.

“We should  not  have  to  be  here.  Any  femicide  is  one  too  many,”  she  said.  “As  we  walk  today,  let’s  remember  –  and  go  forward  talking  about  –  the  issue  of  violence towards women and femicide, so that we can make sure there are none ever again.”

Essex    Mayor    Sherry    Bondy  and  Deputy  Mayor  Rob  Shepley  attended  the  event.  So  did  Essex  MPP  Anthony Leardi.

“This    is    a    special    place,”  Bondy  said  of  the  Harrow  Soccer  Complex.  “The    reason    why    we    came   back   to   this   place   is  because  Carly  and  her  children spent a lot of time [here].   The   soccer   park   meant a lot to her. So, it is only fitting we come back here  and  come  together again  to  raise  money  for a   [unit   in   a]   brick-and-mortar building that will be in memory of them, so that we  can  hopefully  prevent  anything  like  this  from happening again.”

A     vigil  was  held  for the  family  at  the  Harrow  Soccer   Complex   shortly   after the incident occurred.  Bondy  thanked  Hiatus  House  for  all  it  does  year-round, ensuring individuals have  a  safe  place  to  go when they need it.

Mary Stannard, Carly’s mother,     spoke     at     the     walk-a-thon.  She  thanked  everyone  for  participating in the event, and those who organized it.

“It  is  vital  that  women  in  an  abusive  relationship  realize  how  unsafe  and even dangerous it is to stay in that kind of relationship,” she said. “Hopefully, Carly, Maddy, and Hunter’s story will help that realization.”

She   noted   the   funds   raised  that  day  will  go towards  building  a  safe haven  for  abused  women  and children.

Maggie Durocher, Coordinator of Fundraising and   Development,   noted   Hiatus House is working to build  a  $22M  transitional  housing apartment complex – a place to heal – that will have  40  units  with  either  one  to  three  bedrooms.  It  will  be  located  across  the  street  from  the  shelter  in  Windsor.

Those who  utilize  the Hiatus  House  emergency shelter  can  stay  there  for  six  to  eight  weeks,  but need  to  move  on  after  that  time   to   allow   space   for   others   who   need   access   to  the  program,  Durocher explained.   This      transitional      facility will offer housing for  individuals  coming out  of  the  shelter,  and  will  keep  them  connected  to  a  nurse    practitioner    clinic    and   other   services,   like   ones   that   can   help   with   finding  employment.

It will  provide  for  safe  and  affordable  living,  where women  and  their  families  can     live     independently     with  their  children  before  moving  into  permanent housing,  information  on the project website notes.

Durocher      noted      individuals   will   be   able   to  utilize  the  transitional housing program for up to two-years.

The first  rendering  of the architectural design has been   completed   to   date,   with   hopes   to   have   the   facility built in 2027.Those   interested   can   visit      https://hiatushouse.com/transitional-housing-project/  to  learn  more  or  make a donation.

Though it  was  not known    how    much    the    walkathon    on    Saturday    raised,  Durocher  was  sure  the $10,000 goal to name a  unit  in  the  transitional  housing  building  after Carly,       Madison,       and       Hunter was exceeded.

Durocher  noted nearly every      municipality      in      Ontario  –  including  the Town of Essex and County of  Essex  –  has  declared  intimate   partner   violence   an  epidemic  in  support  of  requesting  the  provincial government  pass  a  bill recognizing the same.

Those  who  may  be  in  a  situation  and  may  want  to  seek  advice  can  call  the  Hiatus  House  24/7  crisis  line   at   519-252-7781   or   800-265-5142    to    speak    with a counsellor.

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