Crestview Middle in Ellisville Hosting 5K 'Run for Congo Women'

 in Ellisville will become home to a 5K Race and 1 Mile Walk this weekend in an effort to raise awareness about violence against women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The event will take place Saturday, May 5, and registrations and sponsorships still are being accepted. Those interested assisting with the event or sponsoring are encouraged to contact Mrs. Dunham through at dunhamsusan@rockwood.k12.mo.us for more information. For a list of event sponsors to date, click here.

In a related effort, Crestview Middle School students will be donating dresses to the Little Dresses for Africa project, a non profit that provides clothing for girls in Africa. Last year, 15 dresses were donated through the project. In 2012, Rockwood School District representitives expect more than 100 dresses to be donated.

Notes about social issues and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Editor's Note: The following was submitted by the Rockwood School District):

• 6 out of 10 children die before the age of five.
• Women are repeatedly tortured in this war torn area and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is often cited as the worst place in the world for women to live.
  
• More than 5.4 million people have died in the conflict in Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1998 and half of these deaths are children.