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Lauren’s Kids Announces 1,500-Mile Walk and Comprehensive April Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse

  • Writer: Nile Fortner
    Nile Fortner
  • Apr 4
  • 3 min read

This April, in recognition of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Lauren’s Kids, the South Florida-based nonprofit known for turning trauma into triumph, is once again taking massive strides—literally and figuratively—to protect children, raise awareness, and empower survivors.

Led by child advocate and founder Senator Lauren Book, Lauren’s Kids is launching a powerful series of local, statewide, and national initiatives. At the heart of the campaign: the 10th anniversary of the “Walk in My Shoes”—a symbolic and physical 1,500-mile journey from Key West to the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee.


This year’s campaign features an all-star team of supporters, from Florida’s professional sports teams like the Miami HEAT and Florida Panthers, to national partnerships with organizations like the YMCA, plus legislative advocacy and community-building activities like the Friendship Bracelet Program—all united in the mission to protect children and support survivors of sexual abuse.

Stepping Into Advocacy: A Journey of Hope and Healing

Beginning April 1, 2025, Senator Lauren Book will lace up her sneakers to kick off the 1,500-mile trek from the Southernmost Point of the U.S. in Key West, walking all the way to Tallahassee. Along the route, the Lauren’s Kids team will partner with sexual assault treatment centers, children’s advocacy organizations, schools, and local heroes to shine a spotlight on abuse prevention and survivor empowerment.

“The greatest risk factor for abuse is simply being a child,” says Senator Book, herself a survivor of child sexual abuse. “This walk is a powerful reminder that we must continue fighting for every child’s safety and every survivor’s voice. This is more than just awareness—it’s about action, education, and empowerment.”

How the Public Can Get Involved

Whether walking a mile or supporting from afar, there are countless ways the public can engage:


Join the 2025 “Walk in My Shoes” Tour

The walk includes over 30 stops across Florida, from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Orlando, Pensacola, and more. Each stop features walks, school visits, community events, and moments of healing.


📍Highlights include:

  • April 4: Roxcy Bolton Rape Crisis Center walk (Miami walks with Kristi House children’s advocacy center and the Roxcy Bolton Rape Crisis Center at Jackson Health Systems – the nation’s first rape crisis center)

  • April 5: Fort Lauderdale walk with the Nancy J. Cotterman Sexual Assault Treatment Cener

  • April 7: Coral Springs Walk, Aston Gardens Senior Community visiting hours

  • April 8: Florida Panthers game with Senator Book dropping the puck

  • April 30: Final rally at the Historic Capitol in Tallahassee

Full schedule at: LaurensKidsWalk.org

Create & Share a Friendship Bracelet

The new Friendship Bracelet Program invites survivors and supporters to craft and exchange bracelets featuring empowering words like "Brave," "Hope," and "Strong." Bracelets will be shared among survivor communities to foster healing and solidarity.


Send your bracelet to: Lauren’s Kids4000 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 677-SHollywood, FL 33021


Support Survivor-Focused Legislation

Lauren’s Kids is advocating for stronger laws to protect children from exploitation and abuse.


The nonprofit is backing several bills in the 2025 Florida Legislative Session, including:

  • SB 1084/HB 1451: Criminalizing non-consensual and deepfake sexual content

  • SB 1180/ HB 757: Tackling the spread of child sexual abuse material

  • SB 1400/HB 1161: Helping victims remove altered content from online platforms

  • SB 1654/HB 1351: Strengthening sexual predator reporting requirements

YMCA’s Five Days of Action

In partnership with the YMCA, Lauren’s Kids will also provide educational toolkits nationwide through the “Know. See. Respond.” campaign, equipping families with the knowledge and tools to prevent child abuse.


Lighting the Way to a Safer Future

On April 29, the Florida Historic Capitol will be lit teal and blue—symbolic colors of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month—in honor of survivors and advocates working to end abuse.

“Through our ambitious local, state-level, and national initiatives, we’re shining light in dark places and sending a message that survivors of sexual assault will not be silenced,” continued Book. “We are also dedicated to preventing abuse by raising awareness. Every step, every bracelet, every bit of education shared helps to prevent child sexual abuse and create safer communities."

More information here


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