Race to support domestic violence victims returns in Framingham

FRAMINGHAM — “It was just another one of those bad days between him and I," said Melanie Winters, a South Shore resident.  

“And then it ended up outside and I screamed for help,” she said. 

Someone heard her, but she still had to escape from her boyfriend, Winters said.  

She drove to her workplace — a coffee shop — and some regular customers helped get her inside to hide.  

Police were already searching for them, she said.  

Winters was taken somewhere that night where she wouldn’t be found, but still had to get up for work the next morning, she said.  

It’s now several years later, and Winters is newly married — to a different man. On Saturday morning, they ran the 10th annual Purple Passion 5K together, hosted by Voices Against Violence.

It's the Framingham nonprofit’s largest fundraiser to combat domestic and sexual violence.  

The event wasn’t held last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but returned this year for its timed 5K run, casual run and walk.   

More:Voices Against Violence holds annual race in Framingham, reports increase in survivors helped

Winters, who has a marathon under her belt, only heard about the race on Friday from her friend Melanie Bernier, who works as an overnight program advocate at a domestic violence shelter.  

Winters and her husband hopped in at the last minute, she said, and each finished first in their age category.  

“It feels so good,” she said of having a healthy relationship. Escaping her abusive relationship wouldn't have been possible without seeking help from others and having their support, she said. 

“We don’t always get good stories like that,” said Bernier, who worked at the domestic violence shelter for more than two years. 

For about 90% of the calls she answers, she has to turn away people because there isn't enough room for them in the shelter, she said.

“We just don’t have enough shelter, funding or people," she said.

Lately, the phone line has been eerily quiet, she said. It could mean they found help elsewhere, or they could be trapped at home and can't call for help, she said. 

Domestic violence isn’t a topic people want to discuss, but it hurts many — not just the people involved with the abusive relationship, said Bernier.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. One in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner, the organization reports. 

The pandemic began last year, but many people are still home and haven't returned to work in-person, noted Patricia Hohl, executive director of Voices Against Violence.  

More:Domestic violence victims are now at home with abusers. These local resources could help.

Calls increase and decrease in cycles, but with federal unemployment and additional benefits ending this month, the nonprofit is expecting an increase in them, she said. 

“Any time financial stress increases in a household. it increase the likelihood of violence,” she said. 

While there may be fewer phone calls coming in, the same can't be said for other forms of communication, such as web-chatting and email, she said.  

About 75 people participated in the Purple Passion 5K this year — all in-person, Hohl said. A large part of the race is about raising awareness for domestic violence and the services the nonprofit offers to help, she said. 

Earlier Saturday morning, Stephanie Deeley, co-president of the Framingham chapter of the League of Women Voters, gave a brief speech about violence prevention. One quote in particular resonated with Hohl. 

"Like swimming, she said parents need to teach their children what a healthy relationship looks like at an early age," Hohl said.

Lauren Young writes about business and pop culture. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenwhy__.