2nd run-walk puts child abuse in spotlight (Bloomington, Illinois)

Amy Leichtenberg's sons were killed by their father during court-ordered unsupervised visitation back in 2009. We've posted on the Leichtenberg case many times over the years.

 http://wjbc.com/2nd-run-walk-puts-child-abuse-in-spotlight/

2nd run-walk puts child abuse in spotlight

By: Ryan Denham | Yesterday

BLOOMINGTON – A Central Illinois mother whose young sons were killed by their father is trying to keep their memory alive with a 5K run and one-mile walk.

The second annual Taking Steps to End Child Abuse is set for April 15 at Tipton Park in Bloomington. Proceeds benefit the Family Visitation Center at the Children’s Foundation of Children’s Home + Aid in Bloomington.

Amy Leichtenberg lost her sons, Jack and Duncan, in 2009, a tragic end to a domestic dispute and custody battle with the boys’ father. She helped launch the run-walk last year, in honor of her boys, and the timing is deliberate. April 10 is Jack’s birthday, and April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Last year’s inaugural event raised almost $10,000, she said, with about 700 participants.

“After everything happened, you have two choices. You can let it kill you, or you can rise above it. And I decided to rise above it, and try to do some good works in their name,” Leichtenberg said of her sons.

The Family Visitation Center, or FVC, is described as a “safe, neutral site” for visitation between non-custodial parents and their children. But “due to reduced funding of this program by the state of Illinois, proceeds of this race will be used to increase the level of critical support to clients of the FVC,” organizers said.

Leichtenberg said her sons once used the Children’s Home + Aid facilities.

“That’s why I feel strongly about supporting them,” she said. “At the time when the boys were using their facilities, they were going to be losing their funding, and that was one of the reasons they had to have unsupervised visits.”

Registration by mail or online by April 6. It’s $25 for a single participant, $40 for two, or $50 for a family or team. Children 11 years old and under are free.