Shedding light on child victims of sexual abuse

It was more than 10 years ago Alison Lee says she was sexually abused.

The now 17-year-old isolated herself from friends and family. Then one day she decided to break her silence. “Someone has to step up and take a stand and I wanted to be that person,” Lee said.

Lee decided to focus her energy and be a voice for child abuse victims.

In 2012, she started a Shed Light campaign to raise money for the Be Brave Ranch near Edmonton – a long-term treatment facility for children suffering from sexual abuse.

The ranch opened Sept. 1 and Lee was one of the first youth to go through the program.

“I can say for myself that I’ve been able to heal more. I’m lighter. I’m happier. It’s easier to deal with certain things, nightmares, bad days. It’s such a magical place. It’s amazing,” she said.

Lee began by selling lights, each representing a child victim, in her hometown of Coaldale, Alberta. She has now expanded her campaign to Lethbridge, joining in the cities annual Bright Lights Festival.

Lee’s campaign has also inspired other victims to speak out. A 10-year-old boy she met in the Be Brave program is planning this Christmas to light a tree in his small town outside of Vancouver.

“It was amazing because that’s one more person that’s going to be able to bring awareness and that’s one more person that’s going to be a voice for the voiceless,” she said.

Lee will be at the Bright Lights Festival at Galt Gardens Friday night, selling sponsorship for her lights. The event goes from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.