High school senior organizes 5k to stop domestic violence

PLYMOUTH, Ind. - 

It was the death of a 2-year-old girl in Plymouth that prompted a high school senior to try and put an end to domestic violence. Loren Mattern is now organizing her second 5k to raise money for a domestic violence shelter called the Heminger House.

Serenity Wilson died two years ago after being beaten unconscious by someone said to be a family friend.

Mattern says the girl’s death rocked the community.

“The day that her funeral happened and the way it affected the environment, I was like this should never happen again. It shouldn’t have happened to begin with. She was two. Who knows what she could have done? She could have been a leader in the community. She could have done so much,” said Mattern.

So she organized a 5k in honor of Serenity last year.

“I made it my goal to make sure that never happens again in Plymouth,” said Mattern.

She’s been preparing for this run four months already, hoping to double the $1500 she raised last year. She says $3000 is enough to put four families in safe homes individually.

That money will come from shirt sales, registration fees and donations.

There will also be a bake sale and auction at the run this year. Mattern says just showing up shows support, and every penny helps.

Adult registration costs $25 and students run for $15. Registration will be open until October 7, the day of the event.

Mattern hopes to turn the run into an annual event.

“This is year two and I’ve already heard about several cases so my job isn’t done yet. I have to keep going,” she said.

Shirts can also be purchased for the cause. Those can be found here.