Domestic Violence Awareness: How Sue Newby's legacy is helping T-Valley DV survivors
Boise, ID (CBS 2) — "They talked about the different signs that each of them saw independently, but they didn't recognize, and they didn't put it all together," explains Women's and Children's Alliance Executive Director Beatrice Black.
"Very early on in my tenure here, I had the privilege of meeting Marj who is Sue's sister, and two of Sue's best friends, as they talked about how they could best carry on and start something that could be in Sue's memory."
That was eleven years ago.
And today, Sue Newby's legacy continues to shed light on domestic abuse.
"When we hear about domestic violence, I think our minds immediately go to something that is physically visible, it's a black eye, a broken arm, that seems to be the standard for domestic violence," says Black.
But Beatrice Black with the Women's and Children's Alliance tells me domestic abuse, is not always visible.
"Look for isolation, look for a change in behavior, look for a chance in interests and reach out,' urges Black. "When we talk about domestic violence, we're talking about a pattern of actions that are used to specifically control their behavior. and that abuse knows no socio-economic boundaries."
And for Sue Newby, her isolation, the signs of abuse and ultimately her death came as a shock to friends.
"What I learned through my conversations with Sue's sister and her two good friends is that she was a very smart, energetic, passionate businesswoman who worked at hp for many years. This was a relatively new relationship, she had been married for three and a half, four years and as the investigation deepened, it turned out he had a girlfriend on the side. He had a large life insurance policy taken out on her, the girlfriend didn't know about her so while I can't say this was domestic violence because he took his own life when the police came to question him, the signs were all there," explains Beatrice Black.
Eleven years later, both Sue's friends and the Women's and Children's Alliance are working to raise awareness while helping women just like Sue, through the Annual Sue B 5k/10k Run-Walk.
"The race has raised over the past 10 years, close to 200,000 to 250,000 and so that allows her name to live on," explains Black.
All proceeds from the Sue B 5k/10k Walk and Run will benefit the Women's and Children's Alliance to help survivors of domestic violence, giving them safety, freedom, healing and most of all hope
We invite you to join us on October 6th for the 10th annual Sue B 5k and 10k Walk and Run.
Our very own Sarah Jacobsen will be emceeing the event and all the money raised will benefit the WCA Endowment Fund in Sue's memory.
