'It's about opening up the conversation': Ignore No More run raises awareness about domestic violence

The organizer of a charity run to raise awareness about domestic violence was thrilled to have more than 130 registrants atthe inaugural eventin Edmonton.

Participantsbraved barely-above-freezing temperatureto run snow-sprinkled3K and 10K courses in Gold BarPark on Sunday.

"Really, it's about opening up the conversation," said Mike Cameron, the Ignore No More Run for Respect race director."Having that conversation with young men and boys and also letting women know that we care, that there are people out there who care, and they're not alone."

Cameron's late girlfriend, Colleen Silitio, was killed by her ex-common law partner, Paul Joseph Jacob,in a murder-suicide in Fort Saskatchewanin2015. The 46-year-old mother of five was killed shortly after filing a restraining order against Jacob.

• Colleen Sillito sought restraining order against boyfriend before murder
• Colleen Sillito 'a perfect balance of head and heart,' companion says

"I swore that day that her story wouldn't end there," Cameron said on Sunday.

Since Silito's death, Cameron has been looking at ways to raise awareness about healthy relationships and gender-based violence.

'It helps when he talks about all that kind of stuff'

As a runner, he thought launching acharity run made sense.

"As men we're encouraged to suppress our emotions. It's not OK to feel. It's not OK to cry. We need to suck it up," Cameron said. "I think there's some real perils in that. We make decisions based on emotion. We justify them by logic."

Cameron's 17-year-old son, ChrisCameron, attended Ignore No More, which included 3K and 10K events, insupport of hisfather.

"It helps when he talks about all that kind of stuff. It helps make it easier for me to kind of express my emotions," Chris Cameron said.