Memorial run helps abused women escape violent relationships

Money raised in memory ofTanyaShand, who was fatally stabbed by her partner in 2013, has been used to help some two dozen other victims escape abusive relationships, according to theKennebecasisRegional Police Force.

TheTanyaShandMemorial Milk and Cookie Run happens Saturday inQuispamsis.

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"Since the run's been going, and this is our third year, 100 per cent of the women that we've been able to help, have left their abusers and are living a safe and happy life," saidConst.Kelley McIntyre, the woman's abuseco-ordinatorwith the police force.

"We have five cases ... where we strongly believe that there's potential for the women to be killed. And those five women have completely left the relationship."

McIntyre said at least20 other women in bad situations have also received help.

"Even a simple gesture such as getting them a gas card to get to acounsellingappointment is enough for somebody to say, 'Hey, I've got some support here, there's people behind me, I can do this.'"

Family effort

Shand'ssurviving 10-year-old daughter is expected to be thereSaturday, cheering on participants as they cross the finish line.

"She's a force to be reckoned with," says Cheyenne's aunt and guardian, JulieShandRyan.

"The perseverance out of that girl, it shows me you can go on."

Cheyenne was at home in the Dolan Road apartment when her 33-year-old mother was stabbed more than 21 times and her throat was cut.

Cheyenne's biological father, Adam Prest, faced charges of second degree murder.

He had not yet entered a plea when he died in jail.

"Honestly, it was a relief," said Ryan."Because we were preparing a six-year-old for trial. As you can imagine, she was a witness, so she was going to have to take the stand."

Signs of trouble

Ryan recalled her sister showingsigns of being fearful some two weeks before she was murderedonMay 22.

On Mother's Day,Shandtold her sister that Prest was getting aggressive.

"That week that she was killed, it was aWednesday, and thatFridayshe was supposed to move in with us," Ryan said.

"Her cable bill was cancelled. Her cellphone was cancelled. She was coming to us."

Ryan said the memorial run also raises money to support education in local schools.

The police teach students how to recognize unhealthy relationships, how to assess risk within relationships and how to recognize abusive use of technology, including social media and cellphones.

80 calls

TheKennebecasisforce said over six months this yearJan. 1 to June 1it received 80 calls in response to reports of intimate partner violence.

That marks an upswing from last year, when there were112 calls in total.

Previous years have averaged about one call a day.

Police Chief Steve Palmer saidit's a misconception to think domestic violence doesn't happen in affluent communities.

"We've certainly had plenty of calls to high end residences in our area," he said.

Asked if it's more difficult to intervene when a family is well known, or influential, orwealthy, Palmer said no.

"Our officers are all trained well. They believe in the law and they believe in enforcing the law fairly with everyone. So I don't feel in their minds, there's any influence one way or the other."

Remembering other victims

This weekend's run also remembers other victims of intimate partner violence in the province, including Alice Leadlay, an 80-year-old woman from Rothesay, who had dementia.

On Sept. 26, 2005, she was gagged and rolled up in a carpet by her husband and left on the living room floor overnight.

Melanie Davis from Saint John was handcuffed and brutally stabbed over 25 times on May 10, 2010, by her estranged husband.

Two years ago,45-year-old Cindy Irving from Saint John was strangled to death by her husband.

The same year, 50-year-old CathyBawn was found dead inside a home on Red Head Road on June 30following a double shooting.

And Gail Fosterof Nauwigewauk was shot to death by her husband in October 2003.

Her car was packed with her belongings when her husband pulled the trigger.

The TanyaShandrun begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Quispamsis qplex.