Leilani to embark on another walk against violence and abuse on women
She has also launched a charitable organisation, YellowForSurvivors to raise awareness about rape and sexual abuse.
Leilani Kuter will again embark on her remarkable journey against violence and abuse perpetrated against women.
On 16 September 2019 the 46-year-old rape survivor and activist from Roodepoort began a 27-day journey covering a distance of 729km to mark the 27th anniversary of her rape ordeal, to take a stand against sexual assault and gender-based violence in South Africa.
The walk started in Pretoria and ended with the Ruimsig parkrun in Roodepoort on 12 October where her supporters showed up wearing yellow and posted their pictures in solidarity, using the hashtag #yellowforsurvivors.
Also wearing yellow, the colour her attacker wore, Leilani sought to break the stigma rape carries and raised over R250 000 on BackaBuddy to support and empower rape survivors throughout the country.
This year marks the 28th anniversary of the traumatic sexual assault that left her for dead and changed her life forever.Once again Leilani will put on her iconic smile and tighten her laces to shine a spotlight on survival.
This year on 1 September Leilani will begin a 16-day journey, walking 28km per day (448km in total), revisiting significant moments in her life.
“Every step of my 2020 challenge will be taken in defiance of systemic violence against women, men and children, in celebration of our collective survival spirit. I hope the public will get behind me and support my BackaBuddy campaign,” said the courageous Leilani.
The walk commences where she was born and raised in Pretoria, and along the way she will be visiting her old primary school, high school, the area in which she bought her first property, finally ending on the West Rand, where she got married and her ‘new life’ began.
According to Leilani, her main focus is raising much-needed funds for rape crisis centres across South Africa on donations-based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy.
In anticipation of her walk, Leilani has already raised a total of R147 154,50 towards her target of R280 000 to empower rape survivors.
“Walking has become a big part of my healing process and I’ve learned, as I get older, that you can’t run away from your past,” said Leilani.
Leilani has become an outspoken advocate and voice for women’s rights and gender-based violence in South Africa.
She has also launched a charitable organisation, YellowForSurvivors to raise awareness about rape and sexual abuse.
Members of the public who are interested in supporting Leilani’s campaign are welcome to make a donation on https://www.backabuddy.co.za/shine-the-spotlight-on-survival.
Alternatively, one can make a donation via https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/shine-the-spotlight-on-survival2020.
Donors will be eligible for section 18 tax certificates, issued by Leilani’s non-profit company, YellowForSurvivors.
