Last year 600 victims in Garfield County sought refuge from the anguish of domestic violence or sexual assault at the Advocate Safehouse Project.

On Sunday, May 9, more than 550 people participated in the 5th annual Mother’s Day Mile, a one-mile race loop that began and ended at Glenwood Medical Associates.

The race benefits programs at the Advocate Safehouse Project, an organization dedicated to eliminating domestic violence and sexual assault in Garfield County.

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Mother’s Day proved to be the right day. “It’s mothers helping mothers,” said Ann Deyarmond.

Advocate Safehouse responds to the growing social problem of domestic violence and sexual assault by creating programs that teach independence and empowerment to victims, develop practical strategies for a non-violent family environment and provide awareness, education and information to the public.

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By seeking help through through education and counseling, a victim can experience healing.

Without help, the vicious cycle of abuse can spread throughout a family like an aggressive cancer. It invades one generation, metastasizes on the next and demolishes whatever steps in its destructive path.

The Advocate Safehouse Project can break that cycle.

“The families who are here at the race never experience what the families at the safehouse experience,” said Advocate Safehouse executive director Julie Olson.

Advocate Safehouse and its supporters gave the greatest gift not just on Mother’s Day, but also on every night and every day that a victim who needed help found it at the safehouse.

“This is such a wonderful healthy thing for our community to be doing,” said family counselor Sue Maisch.

Of course, there are other learning experiences to be had from a mother’s day mile.

“Now I know a mile cannot kill me,” said Verena Schott.

Ann Deyarmond of New Castle teaches seventh grade at Glenwood Springs Middle School, Megan Deyarmond, 9, and Ryan Deyarmond, 7, attend Kathryn Senor Elementary in New Castle.

From left, Jan Owen of Glenwood works for Dr. Goodstein, Sue Maisch of Glenwood is a therapist and child/family counselor, Terry Ewbank of Glenwood sits on the Advocate Safehouse board of directors and Ashley Holtum of Glenwood is studying criminology and Italian at Denver University and took third in her category.

From left, Kathy Grizzell of Battlement Mesa, her mother, Catherine Evans, 82, also of Battlement Mesa took first in her category and Judy Beattie of New Castle.

Sarah Hess, left, of Glenwood is a counselor, Mya Gallacher of Glenwood is a junior and a National Honor Society student at Glenwood Springs High School and Martha Heim of Glenwood sits on the Advocate Safehouse board of directors and took second in her category.

Glenwood moms and daughters from left, Melanie Stevens is a sales associate at Aspen Research Group, Kiley Stevens, 11, attends Glenwood Springs Elementary, Cheryl Pearce is a veterinarian and Taryn Pearce, 11, attends Glenwood Springs Middle School.

Clockwise from back, Kevin Long of Silt is a construction worker, Rodney Long of Silt is a senior at Yampa High School, Gina Reece-Long of Silt is a Mary Kay representative, Michael White of New Castle is a water operator, Tianna White is co-owner at Sublime Salon in Carbondale and Adrian White, 5, attends Montessori School.

From left, Mike Kishomoto of Glenwood is track coach at Glenwood Springs High School and works for Natural Resources Conservation Service, Julie Olson is executive director of Advocate Safehouse Project, race director Nancy Reinisch is an Advocate Safehouse board member and Dr. Paul Salmen, is a family practice doctor at Glenwood Medical Associates.

Carbondale ladies from left, Verena Schott is an equine therapist, Phyllis Smilack is an accountant and Gail Rippe is a bookkeeper and took second in her category.