Still walking to support abused woman
Leilani Kuter walked hundreds of kilometres in under a month. More people than she could reasonably have guessed showed up on her routes to show their support. Rape victims from all over now open up and tell their stories.
What used to be a symbol of her biggest heartache and her worst fears, has now become her strength. The number 27 no longer scares her. Yellow has no power over her anymore. In fact, she wears yellow with pride and, closer to the end of September, the same colour became the main theme for her 27 kilometres for 27 days challenge.
Leilani Kuter took on this challenge close to the anniversary of the day she was attacked and held down while a grown man forced himself on her. Nearly a month after starting her 729 kilometre walk, she finished it and inspired and empowered women all over the country and all over the world. Each day she chose a new starting point for her 27 kilometre trek, taking on the roads of Krugersdorp, Roodepoort, Randfontein, Muldersdrift, Klein Kariba, Modimolle, Hartbeespoort Dam, Boksburg, Nelspruit and Middelburg, to name a few.
Her story quickly spread and she was featured in national newspapers, on radio and even in online media abroad. People came out in droves during the later stages to support her. In some towns crowds clothed in yellow en flying yellow flags showed her their support, and some businesses even painted parts of their buildings yellow.
The reason she started down this path was to motivate other women to come forward, tell their stories and slowly come to terms with the horrible things they have gone through. “Every day I woke up at 4am. What got me going were the messages I received from people all over South Africa,” she recalled.
“Many women told their story for the first time ever – to me. I can’t explain the weight I felt, and what an amazing feeling it was that this was actually making a difference and inspiring woman to tell their story.”
Leilani is testament to how one can become stronger than ever before, even after such a horrible ordeal. “The third day in Nelspruit, the rain was pouring down. I believed it was God’s way of washing the pain away, and I walked 27 kilometres in that rain,” she said.
Leilani raised R243 000, which will be distributed to organisations in need. But, she’s not stopping. She’s about to start her own non-profit organisation named Yellow For Survivors. She is writing a book, and a documentary will be released on her journey up until now. Even after 729 kilometres, she’s not done walking yet. Now she walks for specific women. A couple of weekends ago she walked 28 kilometres in the Cradle of Humankind for a woman who was molested 28 years ago. She’s taking on more and more walks as women contact her and tell their stories. Leilani can be booked for walks and motivational talks at https://www.yellowforsurvivors.co.za.
