Every year, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) holds the annual Walk for Change: an inspiring day of community, awareness, healing, and hope. It is the largest gathering in New England raising awareness of sexual violence and showing visible community support for survivors.

Survivors, friends, family members, activists, and others who share BARCC’s mission come together to send a message as a community: we are dedicated to ending sexual violence through healing and social change.

The fun and festive event includes a lovely 2.6-mile loop along the Charles River, music, face painting, food trucks, sign making, bubbles, temporary tattoos, team photos, button making, dog goodies, and more!

In 2017, more than 1,700 attendees took part in the Walk for Change and set a fundraising record of $220,000 raised for BARCC services. The event is attended by a diverse group of BARCC supporters including survivors, BARCC staff and volunteers, local colleges and universities, community groups, other nonprofit organizations, corporate sponsors, and individual donors.

The event takes place during the month of April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

Founded in 1973, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is the only comprehensive rape crisis center in the Greater Boston area and the oldest and largest center of its kind in New England. Our mission is to end sexual violence through healing and social change.

BARCC provides free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence ages 12 and up and their families and friends. We work with survivors of all genders regardless of when the violence occurred, whether it was 20 minutes ago or 20 years ago. Our goal is to empower survivors to heal and seek justice in ways that are meaningful to them. We meet the needs of survivors in crisis and long after, and we assist survivors as they navigate the health-care, criminal justice, social service, and school systems.

We are powered by roughly 40 staff and over 200 volunteers.

BARCC assists tens of thousands of sexual violence survivors and their families, friends and communities each year, regardless of sex, gender identity, race, physical/developmental disabilities, income, ethnicity, class, religion, or sexual orientation. We provide services in English and Spanish, as well as other languages upon request.

Your contributions enable BARCC to provide free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence. They also make it possible for BARCC to provide training to organizations and communities—including high schools, colleges, police, health-care providers, and businesses—on how to respond to survivors and create cultures that prevent sexual violence in the first place. BARCC is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means your donation is 100% tax deductible. Join our movement to end sexual violence through healing and social change today!