Carmel Marathon participant running for sexual assault survivors

By ANDREW CHERNOFF

WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Training to run a marathon can be tough.

But it’s something that Serena Van Orman is used to doing, after having run in various events for a few years.

“It just started to become something really positive in my life to have something to train for, and to keep pushing myself to do,” Van Orman said.

The next event Van Orman will compete in will be the Carmel Marathon this Saturday.

The Carmel Marathon is held in April each year. That month has an important meaning for Van Orman because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and she is a sexual assault survivor.

“When I think about being a sexual assault survivor, it is something really heavy that you carry with you forever,” Van Orman said.

Van Orman will have other sexual assault survivors on her mind when she competes this weekend.

“There are so many strong, powerful people in my life and impactful people in the world who are survivors,” Van Orman said.

If you’re watching the Carmel Marathon, you’ll probably be able to spot Van Orman. She’ll likely be the only person running with a 15-pound mattress pack on her back.

“It’s based on an activism piece done by a student – a college student – in 2014,” Van Orman said.

The pack is an additional way for her to run for sexual assault survivors.

“I can run with a mattress in support of sexual assault survivors,” Van Orman said. “And kind of do what she (the college student referenced above) did and apply this to my volunteer work with Firefly and my being a survivor advocate. “

The pack has stickers saying “I believe survivors.” It also features anonymous messages from other sexual assault survivors.

For instance, one message reads: “You got this! You are so much stronger than you know.”

Van Orman wore the mattress pack on her back last year as well in the Carmel Marathon.

As Van Orman referenced above, she is involved with Firefly Children & Family Alliance. According to the nonprofit’s web site, “Our organization is built on the belief that giving kids and adults the chance to succeed creates stronger communities. We help Hoosiers overcome hardship and unhealthy behaviors. Our programs and services include child abuse prevention, home-based services, youth placement and recovery services.”

Van Orman is also hoping to bring attention to the work Firefly does. On her fundraising page on Firefly’s website, she wrote: “I’m running to remind myself and others that every mile counts—just like every story, voice, and act of support for survivors matters.”

This story originally appeared on WISH-TV at wishtv.com/sports/carmel-marathon-serena-van-orman/