AUSTIN, Texas — Summer Willis finished her 29th marathon on Sunday by completing the Austin Marathon, but only ran 13.1 miles of the 26.2 mile event.
Instead, on Saturday, Willis supplemented the other 13.1 miles by crawling on the track at Austin High School.
Willis undertook the daunting athletic feat to raise awareness for victims of sexual assault. Willis herself was sexually assaulted while she was a student at the University of Texas at Austin 10 years ago, and says that the process of healing is a crawl.
“This morning, when I started the marathon at 13.1 [miles], I was so happy when I looked up across the street and saw the place exactly at 13.1 where I was sexually assaulted 10 years ago,” Willis said. “And to be so happy that, although the plan was to be on my knees, that I was standing tall … by my husband, and I wasn’t in pain anymore.”
After the marathon, Willis met with lawmakers to discuss possible legislation to protect sexual assault victims.
“Not only did it complete Summer’s incredible mission, but it symbolized the beginning of a movement with the potential to inspire policy change that will have ripple effects across generations of Texans,” State Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) said.
Lawmakers who spoke Sunday afternoon said they are working to make sure every survivor of sexual assault has the resources and support to find justice.