I was sexually assaulted at Phish's CO Run

Hello, Leslie Mac here. I'm coming to you with a request for funding to support my recovery and therapy after being groped and assaulted this past weekend at Phish's closing concert run at Dick's Sporting Goods Arena in Colorado. This photo was taken 1 hour before I was assaulted.

I attended all 4 nights this run pushed me over the 50 Phish show threshold. I've been seeing Phish for 30 years starting in 1993. I've seen them in all kinds of venues, including multiple camping festivals but this was my first time going to their Dick's yearly summer-ending run.

My first 2 nights were amazing, Saturday things started to get more crowded and the crowds more unruly and obnoxious. The final day - Sunday was already difficult with the venue not opening until 8:30 pm due to a storm passing through which made getting in a massive headache but I persevered and made it inside.

I went to finish getting ready for the show, filling my water bottle, grabbing a snack/lemonade, and heading back to my seat when I felt someone slap my ass. My hands were full so by the time I turned around I couldn't tell who had done it. I kept walking, faster now - another slap, this time harder. I kept walking, now a pinch. I'm now pushing people to try to get out of the crowd, then a grab that lingered long enough for me to feel a finger pushing - I've never been so glad to be wearing bike shorts in my life. This person tried to quickly penetrate me while I was walking!

I was in shock and made it to my seat but only lasted 20 minutes before I had to leave, the idea of sitting there listening to Phish play "Free" while I had just been assaulted like that just couldn't compute in my head. I went to a group of venue staff and told them what happened, I was in tears at this point, and they said "sorry" and literally just pushed me out of the venue onto the lot with no help and no direction as to how to get out of there safely.

I'm home now and as the shock is wearing off, the incident is weighing on me more and more. I need professional support and right now I do not have the funds to cover the amount of therapy needed to help me through this. I'm asking for help because I know I can't go on feeling the way I do now and can't get to a better place on my own.

Those who know me, know that concerts are my happy place, it is where I go to feel free and it all feels tainted and ruined right now and I can't let that be true forever. Please consider donating to help me through this.