By Kelley Ashford
 
September 1, 2008
 
MEDFORD, Ore. -- A group of Oregonians began the walk of a lifetime Monday, looking to raise awareness about child sexual abuse.
 
The Walk Across Oregon began in Ashland Monday morning, and will end in Portland on September 29th. The small group of walkers are looking to raise funds for survivors of sexual abuse. They are also looking to build support for a House Bill that will come before the legislature in early 2009 that would raise the statute of limitations on certain sex crimes.
 
"We want to build support, community support, private support, and group support for survivors, because it's so painful to come forward and so often survivors are rejected when they do come forward," says Virginia Jones with Walk Across Oregon.
 
Jones, a survivor of sexual abuse, says that Walk Across Oregon has gathered so much interest that other states are looking into doing it as well.
 
If you are interested in making a donation or joining the Walk Across Oregon for any amount of time you can find out where the walkers are on their route by going online to www.wintreswishes.org.
 
The walkers plan to make their way through Medford Tuesday.