It took years and help from her family for Megan Elsie to understand she was in an abusive relationship.
She was never physically harmed, but her abuse came in an emotional and psychological form, she said.
Because she didn’t have visual evidence of her abuse, many people often brushed her off.
One day, she finally built the courage to seek resources and began to read domestic abuse-related information to educate herself about how one person can abuse another, she said, and she realized she had to leave her marriage.
“It’s very brutal,” she said as she walked with her dog and sister Renee Spieckermann.“It was shocking realizing how much I had lost myself.”
Spieckermann, a practicing attorney in the Stevenson Ranch area, became protective and the momma bear in her came out, Elsie said as she chuckled.
“My husband also became fiercely protective like an older brother,” Spieckermann added, which solidified for her that “men can join this fight, too,” she said. Spieckermann was referring to domestic abuse awareness.
On Saturday, about 300 community members of all ages, including children and pets, wore purple clothing for the Child & Family Center’s annual Purple Walk, a 5k meant to bring awareness on National Domestic Violence month and raise funds to support the organization’s domestic violence program. The event was held at the organization’s headquarters.
Before people were set to begin the 5k, they were met with a pancake breakfast provided by The Rotary Club of Santa Clarita Valley, music, fun and resources.
“Domestic violence is something that isn’t often seen or understood. These are our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers and people we see at the gym,” said Nikki Buckstead, president and CEO of the organization.
The Child & Family Center is the only domestic violence shelter in the SCV and even with the valley priding itself in being a family-oriented community, “we are not immune to issues related to domestic violence,” she added.
This year’s fundraiser was also essential to keep the program afloat, Buckstead said. With federal and state funding cuts, the organization lost $300,000 and the Purple Walk along with other events the organization hosts are critical to continuing programs.
The organization’s efforts didn’t go unrecognized during the event. Aside from hundreds coming to support the cause, city Councilwoman Patsy Ayala also delivered a proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness month, and an additional $21,000 was donated by Hello Auto Group and N.P. Law altogether.
In order to help reduce domestic violence, survivors must learn to set boundaries, and practice setting them when actively in the relationship, Celine De Courson said as she walked the 5k.
“There are things we as women tend to overlook and allow and it’s something we’ve always been told. I think communication with each other about not being OK, or being stronger about our boundaries,” is one way people can avoid falling into a abusive relationship, she said.
As a crowd of hundreds completed their walk, Elsie joined the effort not to just raise awareness about domestic violence but to also serve as a testament that abuse comes in many different forms that need to be discussed.
But in that moment, surrounded by her sister and friends, she celebrated her bravery of breaking free from her abuse, and only hopes many more will do so in the future.
