DeKALB – DeKalb County can gather to join the 14th Annual Walk to End Child Abuse and place pinwheels to represent each child the Children’s Advocacy Center served in 2023.

Registration for the walk starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Sycamore High School Field House, located at 820 Borden Avenue.

People are invited to create teams and walk from the Sycamore High School Field House to the DeKalb County Court House together to raise awareness about child abuse during Child Abuse Awareness month.

The Family Service Agency has multiple programs for youth like camps and counseling. 

The FSA puts on the WECA every year.

The Children’s Advocacy Center is a part of the FSA which focuses on helping children who have experienced abuse. 

There are multiple raffles people are encouraged to buy entries for. There are 24 raffles available including two general admission tickets to Country Thunder, a three month membership to the Kishwaukee YMCA and two season passes to NIU football.

A raffle ticket starts at $5 and goes up to $25. 

During the walk, there will be a complimentary breakfast and a cake walk.

There will be navy blue shirts available that were designed by a 12-year-old student from Sycamore. 

The shirt reads “it’s a beautiful day to keep kids safe,” 

There are hearts and a blue sun on the shirt, blue being the color of child abuse awareness. Blue pinwheels are the symbol of child abuse prevention.  

Currently, there are seven registered teams that are raising money and more teams are welcome to join leading up to the walk. There is an $18,000 donation goal and they have reached $8,607 so far. 

Donations are accepted on the event website.