Denim Day does make a difference for local sex assault survivors says Aurora Healing Center

 It's a simple gesture that means a lot to sex assault victims, wearing denim.

Aurora's Healing Center in on the frontlines providing local treatment and Maryann Clesceri was a special live guest during the CBS 58 News at 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 29th was the annual Denim Day, an internationally recognized day that was first set up to honor an Italian woman who was forcibly raped by her driving instructor. She pressed charges, but the case was dismissed because the judge decided that because she wore tight jeans she consented to sex.

The day has been recognized for some 16 years and we encourage people across the area to wear jeans to show support for misconceptions about sexual assault.

Across Milwaukee, Aurora's Healing Center partnered with groups like the United Way, the City of Milwaukee and others to really bring light to a very hurtful and challenging topic of sexual assault that impacts so many lives.

Each year more than 293,000 people are victims of sexual assaults, with 80 percent of the victims under the age of 30 and 44 percent under the age of 18.

In Milwaukee, more than 2,500 victims start their healing journey in an Aurora Health Care facility.

Aurora Health Care is the only health system in Wisconsin dedicated to helping survivors from point of crisis through life-long recovery.

There are  a number of local abuse response programs, including the Healing Center in Walker's Point, the Sexual Assault Treatment Center of Greater Milwaukee, and a program called Aurora SANE, which stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. These specially trained nurses are at almost every Aurora hospital across Eastern Wisconsin, and they help people who may come into the emergency department know what resources are available to them and help them on their journey.

Many of these resources are available each and every day and night, and we also offer free counseling, support groups and individual advocacy at a number of locations.

Each year, Aurora hosts an event for Survivors to help them and others by raising money. This year's event at Turner Hall sold out quickly.

It's called Hope Shining Blue. It's a celebration of survivors which features a runway experience coordinated by style expert Jordan Dechambre.

For more information on the Aurora Healing Center click here

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