Through trauma-informed advocacy, bipartisan collaboration, and transformative storytelling, we create spaces where survivors are empowered to share their experiences and drive systemic change.
Our founder, Summer Willis, is a survivor of sexual violence. In the wake of her assault, she experienced firsthand the systemic failures, silence, and shame that often define the survivor experience. She began running as a bold act of reclamation. This personal challenge grew into 'Project 29'— a commitment to run 29 marathons as a testament to her own resilience. She met survivors around the world, each with different lives yet she observed the same pattern. She realized Sexual violence thrives on shame, silence, and laws that haven’t kept up with reality. Eventually, Project 29 grew into Strength Through Strides. STS was established to combat the root causes of sexual violence in innovative and community-driven ways to make a lasting impact.
All About Our Story
Running was only the start.
Summer found her true, renewed strength not just in the miles, but in community, in the power of telling her story without shame , and in a fierce new purpose: creating tangible change so that what happened to her wouldn't happen to others. She realized she had a choice: accept the narrative of 'victim,' or rewrite it. She chose to rewrite it. That single run transformed into a public mission. What started as 'Project 29' became a movement. Summer founded Strength Through Strides to ensure that no survivor ever feels alone and that every survivor has the tools to find their own power—whether on the running path, in their community, or in creating systemic change."
The STS Approach
Mission
Through our commitment to advocacy, community, and resource provision, Strength Through Strides exists to reframe the narrative around sexual violence, empower survivors to reclaim their stories, and create lasting systemic change that prevents future harm.
Vision
We envision a world where survivors of sexual violence are met with belief instead of doubt, support instead of shame, and justice instead of silence—where their resilience is celebrated, their voices amplified, and their experiences drive meaningful change at every level of society.
Our Campaigns
The Denim 5K
Starting in 2026, the Denim 5K run/walk will unite cities nationwide in a weekend of resilience and action, bringing communities together in denim to amplify survivor voices.
strength through strides
© 2025 by STS Volunteers. Created on Wix Studio.