The Virden Royal Purple has partnered with Valleyview Co-op to raise funds and awareness for those fleeing domestic violence by collecting toiletries and donations this Friday, (October 11th) at the Valleyview C-Store in Virden from 11 am to 6 pm.
"We had wanted an opportunity to meet the public so that the public could be informed about brain injury awareness and intervention, and what we are doing in the community to help those survivors," shares secretary of the local Virden chapter of the Royal Purple. Bayliss is also Vice President of the National Canadian Royal Purple.
The Canadian Royal Purple has been advocating for women fleeing domestic violence and brain injury awareness and prevention for the past 3 or so years. Bayliss says previous to that they didn't have a common cause across Canada since becoming the Canadian Royal Purple.
"In 2021-2022 the national board of directors met, and we did a lot of brainstorming as to what a common project would be, a common cause," she explains. "And in Manitoba and in Saskatchewan at the time, both our provinces partnered with the brain injury associations in our particular provinces. For example, in Manitoba we partnered with the Brain Injury Association in Winnipeg and helped fundraise."
At the onset of this collaborative effort between the Royal Purple and the associations those fundraising efforts went directly to the Brain Injury Association to assist with support programs for the survivors.
"From there, with the brainstorming we came up with these ideas of the Purple Thursday, and learning more information about the survivors and the causes of their injuries," she adds, "and then we embarked on this program of Purple Thursday and the care bags."
Items donated and purchased from Friday's C-Store collection day will be assembled into care bags and given to the Brandon women's shelter on Purple Thursday, October 17th. Items also include toys and toiletries for children. Bayliss notes that they will also be collecting items for men who have left abusive and violent situations, although the majority of survivors are women.
Bayliss says one in 3 women experience interpersonal violence, and of the 107,810 people ages 15 and over who experience this kind of domestic violence 79% were women. 92% of the incidents involved hits to the head, face and neck choking, all of which can cause brain injury. She adds these statistics are according to police reports in 2019.
"The third Thursday in October each year, we have what we call Purple Thursday across Canada, and all the Royal Purple groups across Canada will be doing the same thing," explains Bayliss. "They will be collecting essential items in their communities and packing them in similar purple care bags and delivering to designated women shelters in their communities."
"So, it really is a very exciting day, on Purple Thursday when we hope to deliver 3,000 care bags to women's shelters across Canada," she adds.
Valleyview Co-op will be selling Royal Twists, a grape Big Cool and vanilla ice cream combo, with $1 from each going to the Royal Purple. As well they will match all funds raised up to $500.
This Friday, October 11th the Virden Royal Purple will be at the Virden C-Store from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm. Donation items will be available for purchase at Virden's C-Store on Friday. To show your support you can wear purple this Friday, and on Purple Thursday on Thursday, October 17th.
Please listen to more with Fran Bayliss below.