Breakfast with Erika Hansen
While in Cedar City visiting with folks about Some Secrets Hurt, I had breakfast with Erika Hansen who was then Miss Iron County. The new Miss Iron County was crowned just a few days after our visit. Friend-Husband and I had a delightful visit with Erika. She is my new hero. Her platform for the Miss Iron County pageant was Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. What a courageous young woman she is for speaking out on this important subject. She has spoken to kids at schools and to women’s groups about preventing sexual abuse. She has created a website and materials for use in schools. Erika is making a difference. I am so proud of her.
Erika is passionate about this subject because she has her own story of sexual abuse. She was sexually abused for seven years by her stepfather. The abuse began when she was 10 and continued until she was 18, when she told a high school counselor. Later she testified against him in court and he is now serving time in prison. It took a lot of guts to blow the whistle on him and upset her family apple cart.
There will be other pageants for Erika, and more opportunities to speak out against abuse. She has experienced the unspeakable, yet she is speaking out. I love her for making a difference. She is a great role model for kids, showing them that healing is possible. She is showing them how to stand up for themselves, and how to fight back against abuse.
Here’s an Erika quote from her website, www.fightcsa.org.
Helen Keller once said, ““I’m only one, but I am one, and just because I can’t do everything, doesn’t mean I won’t do the little part that I can do.”
Hi, I’m Erika Hansen Miss Iron County 2008. I was a victim of child sexual abuse for seven years, from the time I was 10 until I was 18. Being a survivor has been a trial and a blessing, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I developed my platform, Educating for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, based on my personal experience and promised myself that I would become an advocate for victims all over the world. Although it may seem that this is a problem that may never have a solution, my goal is to help change at least one victim’s life for the better, because changing that one life for the better changes mine as well….and who’s to say that “one” couldn’t change another.
Let’s follow Erika’s lead and stand up for kids. Let’s empower them to take control of their own bodies. Let’s fight back against sexual abuse. Today is a great day to start. Take a look at Erika’s website, www.fightcsa.org. In the meantime, pick up Some Secrets Hurt and share it with someone you love, today.
Linda Garner
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