Story Created: Apr 24, 2009 at 10:39 PM MDT
Story Updated: Apr 24, 2009 at 10:39 PM MDT
Six days, more than 150 miles down KISS FM Radio DJ Keke Luv isn't pounding the pavement for fun.
"He really wants to stop child abuse," said one Boise teen.
April marks child abuse prevention month. This year Keke decided he would run seven marathons in seven days, totaling 175 miles, but his goal goes beyond a finish line.
"As long as they just talk about it you know may be somebody will come out say something," said Keke.
And local residents are showing up on his route to show off their support for his campaign.
"What he's doing is really hitting everybody and its opening everybody's eyes to what's going on now," said Michelle Hardy.
According to Central District Health, in 2008 more than 1,100 children in Idaho were victims of abuse, nearly 300 of who live in Ada County.
"We see a lot of kiddos that it's not the classic, dad didn't beat them, or mom didn't hit them, the neighbor next door didn't sexually abuse them, but they've lived in an environment of fear," said Dr. Tom Young, director of operations for Warm Springs Counseling.
Dr. Young says without growing public awareness abused kids can often go unnoticed.
"If the community as a whole is not protecting its children, and that's not just the police department and the social services division, it's everyone, then you are going to have damaged kiddos growing into damaged adolescents, growing into damaged adults and that cycle of family violence, abuse just repeats itself," he said.
And it's those stories, that Keke says will keep him going till the end.
"If I have to put crutches and jump down there it will be done, we'll all make it together as a team, it will be great," he said.
Keke will finish his feat Saturday night at the Statehouse.
In 2007, according to Prevent Child Abuse America, child abuse and neglect cases cost the nation $104 billion.
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