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Vail Nonprofit Receives $2,000 to Show how Empowerment, Cycling, and Therapy Creates ‘Sacred Cycle’ for Sexual Trauma Survivors
VAIL, Colo.— With one in six women reporting sexual trauma by the age of 18, it’s a necessity that a cycle of recovery and education must be put in place. That’s the goal of Sacred Cycle, a Colorado organization dedicated to “empowering survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault, through therapy and cycling.” Because of these efforts, the Colorado Equity Compass (CEC) has awarded Sacred Cycle $2,000 to share stories of recovery from sexual trauma through the lens of a past program participant whose identity will remain anonymous but whose story will be relatable to many. “Sacred Cycle will create print and digital materials featuring different vantages of Sacred Cycle's impact on healing, recovery, and the community. These ‘Sacred Stories’ of hope will serve to inspire individuals struggling with the after-effects of sexual trauma and will work to motivate awareness and the need for policy-level changes toward increased access to compassionate care and treatment for trauma-related conditions,” Sacred Cycle representatives say. “The $2,000 will pay for the necessary contracted staff time to write and compile the stories, promote them on our website and other platforms, and share them with the greater community. The funds will also pay for the printing costs of hard-copy materials.” One element featured prominently in the “Sacred Stories” will be the social determinants of health (SDOH). These are key elements for determining one’s health, wellbeing, and longevity including topic areas like the reality that many survivors lack access to trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatments. “In rural areas and low-income populations, the cost of living is high and mental health resources are low,” representatives say. “Sacred Cycle offers an unduplicated program, capitalizing on the restorative power of mountain biking, the benefits of access to trauma-informed group therapy, and the importance of community integration in healing.” “The CEC is pleased to support the creation of these ‘sacred stories’ that will enhance the public’s understanding of the SDOH’s impact on effective treatment and aid for survivors of sexual abuse and assault,” says CEC Project Lead Dr. Rachele Espiritu. “We are eager to use our platform to elevate their voices and help advocate for positive policy change.”
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About Sacred Cycle Sacred Cycle's mission is to heal our community by empowering survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault, through therapy and cycling, creating a sacred cycle of recovery. With 1 in 6 women reporting sexual trauma by age 18, trauma survivors are prevalent in our service area — the Eagle River and Roaring Fork Valleys. Left untreated, this trauma continues to impact individuals throughout their lifespan and has social, educational, and economic ramifications, not to mention personal and familial effects. Further still, many survivors lack access to trauma-informed care and evidence-based treatments.
About the Colorado Equity Compass Across Colorado, communities are facing inequities that impact their health and wellbeing. Different factors, including systemic racism, a lack of affordable housing, and environmental concerns, contribute to these inequities.
As a project of The Colorado Trust, CEC helps communities — and the organizations that serve them — better understand these issues and advocate for change using data and stories. This work consolidates diverse resources, connects peers, and both aligns and empowers communities and institutions via an interactive data model. The model showcases inequities and the social determinants of health (SDOH) across communities. CEC also serves as a hub for community storytelling and information-sharing.
For more information and to view the Equity Data Navigator, visit coequitycompass.org. For media inquiries, contact the CEC at [email protected].