Fundraiser fun for all

This year’s "Relay for Life" for survivors of sexual abuse made a strong showing Saturday with new digs, inspirational messages and most of all — fun for all who were there.

The fifth year of Celebrate the Child WithinÂ’s fundraiser found a new home at Nuckols Ranch after outgrowing the previous venue, Westwood Equestrian Center.

The day included games, a bounce house and face painting — along with a serious message.

Anita Stackhouse-Hite, founder of Celebrate the Child Within, said the child-oriented activities were open to everyone attending, including the adults, because one of the main goals of the fundraiser is to allow adults to experience childhood.

"It brings attention in a pleasant way to an unpleasant issue," Stackhouse-Hite said.

Daisy Phipps has attended the fundraiser for two years and plans to continue coming, mostly because she appreciates the eventÂ’s goal.

"I felt I missed a big part of my life," she said. "I didnÂ’t get to do the things kids do. People donÂ’t realize how important it is to let children be children."

Phipps found the keynote address by Dr. Ramon Resa, who shared his childhood experiences of abuse, the most inspiring.

"I could relate to his background and the things he went through," Phipps said. "Listening to others share their experience is really encouraging. IÂ’m almost 60 and I still struggle with it. ItÂ’s always encouraging to know youÂ’re not alone."

Celebrate the Child WithinÂ’s secretary, Lori Lienan agreed.

"It was touching and provocative how Dr. Resa overcame his abuse," she said. "It gives a lot of hope to survivors: You can make a conscious decision to overcome abuse."

Regina Moraga and her family have attended the fundraiser every year.

"We come to support the organization. ItÂ’s good for Porterville," said Moraga, who was standing with her niece and nephew, Savanna Delrosario, 9, and Elijah Delrosario, 7.

"I liked the face painting," Savannah said, standing with a pink nose and whiskers. Her brother was excited about the next part of the dayÂ’s events.

"WeÂ’re going to ride the horses," Elijah said with a smile.

Guests soon moved from Nuckols Ranch to the Westwood Equestrian Center, whose owners remain committed to the cause even though the event has outgrown their facility, so the children could go on horseback rides.

Dee Dee and Floyd Moore are members of the Celebrate the Child Within board and are very involved in making their facility available for events such as the fundraiser.

"WeÂ’ve been doing it since day one," Dee Dee Floyd said. "Our goal this year for my husband and I is to take our organization out to the public eye. We want to make the general public aware that we are here to support anybody that has issues with this problem."

She said one of the most important parts of the organization is its goal to raise awareness about sex abuse for residents of the area.

"WeÂ’ve worked really hard to make Porterville people aware that there is a huge predator problem in this town," Floyd said. "Parents and children need to be aware of the problem and need to come forward without being afraid."

The day saw presentation of the Ruthie D. Gale Excellence in Achievement award to Tulare County District Attorney Phil Cline, who received the award because of his "unending support of victims and survivors of sex abuse and domestic violence in Tulare County and the State of California," Stackhouse-Hite said.

Oprah Winfrey also received an honorary Ruthie D. Gale award, which is being sent to her by mail. Stackhouse-Hite said Winfrey was given the honorary award because of her work to "raise awareness to the plight of survivors of sex abuse globally."

Stackhouse-Hite said the Celebrate the Child Within event was one of the organizationÂ’s main events for the organization.

"This is to sex abuse what the Relay for Life is to cancer," she said.