DECATUR — The runners and walkers who visit Cass County’s Russ Forest Park this weekend will be doing more than just enjoying the outdoors — they will be supporting survivors of sexual violence in southwest Michigan.

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, an organization that provides services to Cass, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties, will host its fourth annual Survivor Stomp Saturday, which will feature a 5K run and a 1.4-mile walk.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. at Russ Forest Park, located 8 miles east of Dowagiac at 20379 Marcellus Hwy., Decatur. It costs $25 to participate in the 5K and is free to join in the walk, though walkers are encouraged to collect pledges. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on the day of the stomp, though those wishing to participate can register online early by visiting the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services Facebook event page.

“This is both a fundraiser and a public awareness event,” said DASAS Executive Director Rose Ludwick. “This is a run in honor of survivors of sexual assault. The premise of it is that we lend a voice to survivors who want to race in it.”

The annual run and walk were intentionally designed to be on hilly, difficult terrain as it allowed survivors of sexual assault to “stomp out” their frustrations, Ludwick said. Now in its fourth year, the event has been steadily growing in popularity, and DASAS is expecting to raise $5,000 from this year’s survivor stomp, which Ludwick said will be used to fund DASAS operations, programs and shelter essentials.

Several Dowagiac residents will be taking part in the Survivor Stomp to show their support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. One such individual is Dowagiac Band director Shane Oakley, who will be attending Saturday’s event as a first-time participant.

“I think it is important to attend as a supporter,” Oakley said. “I think it is great that it is happening in our community.”

Oakley said that he was inspired to attend this year’s Survivor Stomp in support of a friend who has experienced domestic and sexual violence. He will be attending the stomp with that friend.

“I think it is important to go out and support her in that,” he said. “Even though we have the Me Too movement and everything that is going on in our country, we still have a lot of victim shaming, so I think it is important to support the people who are out about their domestic violence experiences and those who have yet to come forward. It’s important to make people feel like they have a safe place to express that.”

Ludwick said she hoped to see many southwest Michigan residents like Oakley at Survivor Stomp, adding that if someone wants to participate but cannot run or walk, they are welcome to attend and cheer on those on the trails.

“We want survivors to know that we are here to support them as we take back their power and take back their lives,” she said. “We want people to come out and stand for themselves or to come out and support a friend or a family member who has been victimized by sexual assault. We think it is important that we provide a platform for people to be able to do that.”