Call to Safety (Portland Women's Crisis Line; PWCL)

My friend Todd Spaits and I will be running the Spartan Beast in the Highlands of Scotland on July 22nd to raise money for Call to Safety and help in their fight against domestic and sexual violence.

This fight is very important personally to us. Since this race is in Scotland of course we will be running in Kilts and Call to Safety T-Shirts!

Fighting Domestic Violence is Personal

Todd - I have been the oldest male in my family since I was 11 years old. I have been the oldest non-abusive, non-addicted male in my family since I was 5 years old.

I have been on the bleeding frontlines of domestic violence.

I have been on the frontlines watching my father try to run down my mother with our car.

I have been on the frontlines when a sheriff picked me up from school in the fourth grade because my father broke my mother’s back by throwing her off the front patio.

I have been on the frontlines when it was my job at 12 to look through the windows of our basement apartment because my father might have broken in and been hiding, lurking, stewing, waiting. It was my job because he might not have hurt me without thinking about first. It was my job because there was no one else. It was my job to enter with my mother to find the things he would sometimes paint in dripping red nail polish on flat surfaces in the house. “Die” was my personal favorite. It was also my job to listen to my mother struggle when after all this a judge would simply say, “Well you married him” and shrug.

Now it is my job to try and help. And I have a friend to help as well. The stories above are mine, however James has also seen domestic violence.

James - While my story is nothing like the emotional and physical struggles that Todd has gone through, domestic violence and sexual assault change a person’s perspective.

I had to subdue a woman, who just woke up from trying to take her own life, when family services told her that they would be taking her daughter due to an unfit household after numerous issues between her and her husband.

I was on the other end of a phone call with a dear friend, when they finally spoke up about a sexual assault that had crippled them for months and was completely taking over her life.

I’ve intervened while on vacation, with a man who had too much to drink and was dragging his “significant other” by her hair through a hotel.

When it comes to any type of assault, we all share a responsibility in speaking out, standing up, and encouraging those to seek help and to find that they are worth much more than how they are being treated.

That is who we are and what we are doing.

How can you help?

Simply by donating. Anything helps to reach our goal. Please help us help others. We will do the sweating, bleeding, panting, running, jumping, climbing, crawling, throwing of spears, carrying a bunch of heavy stuff and the getting muddy. We will post plenty of pictures on FB and Instagram and you can track our progress through the hills of Scotland on FB. You just tip us for doing it and we will make sure those who need the money you donate get it!




What is the Spartan Race?

The Spartan Beast is a 20K+ obstacle course race. As described by Reebok is “The Spartan Beast will test everything you’re made of: your strength, your endurance, your resolve. The unpredictable terrain and Spartan Obstacles are masterfully designed to push you deep into your discomfort zone, and well past those self-imposed obstacles you once considered your limits.” This will be my second Beast and James' 4th, but the first in Kilts for us both. We will be tested!


About Call to Safety

Founded in 1973 by a group of women concerned about the prevalence of sexual assault in the community, the Portland Women’s Crisis Line (PWCL) was one of the first five sexual violence crisis lines in the United States. After more than 40 years of service as PWCL, we are excited to embrace a new identity as Call to Safety.

Our new identity better reflects who we are and what we do:

- We serve Portland and beyond, supporting callers and organizations across Oregon and Washington;

- Call to Safety supports individuals of all genders;

- Our 24/7 crisis line is just one of our core services along with our sexual assault services, follow-up advocacy, and community outreach and education.

Call to Safety is not just a social service agency – we were founded as a social change organization. Domestic and sexual violence are widespread. We are dedicated to supporting those who experience violence in empowering themselves while working to end the oppressions at the root of violence (like racism, sexism, transmisogyny, and ableism).

Thanks for helping!

Todd and James
IG:  @todddigital and @Spartan_Swede
Snapchat: Swede1222

Help spread the word!