Walking Through The Pain
Join the 4th Annual Make a Difference Walk & Resource Fair
By Raoul Dennis
Roberta Roper is known in many circles as the mother of crime victim awareness in Maryland. It’s fitting. She is also a victim/survivor.
Roberta Roper
Roper is a veteran crime victim advocate who, together with her husband, Vincent, founded the Stephanie Roper Committee and Foundation, Inc. in 1982 in tribute to their slain daughter, Stephanie. She was the Executive Director until November 2002, when the missions of this statewide, non-profit victim advocacy and service organization were merged into the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. (MCVRC) Today, the MCVRC continues the missions that have distinguished it as one of the nation’s most effective service providers and voices for crime victims and survivors.
The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center (MCVRC) will host the 4th Annual Make a Difference Walk & Resource Fair on Saturday, April 19, in Kettering, Maryland. This powerful community event honors victims and survivors during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which runs April 6–12, 2025.
This year's NCVRW theme, “Connecting < KINSHIP > Healing”, calls on communities to foster connection, empathy, and healing through shared humanity. The Walk & Resource Fair invites participants to walk in honor of loved ones, raise awareness for victims of crime, and support one another in the spirit of kinship.
"Being a crime victim survivor for 33 years, I've learned that breathing a little hope into someone resuscitates my heart for a few more beats. We help each other live and survive." — Rick Wiggs, survivor, MCVRC board member, and event emcee
Event Schedule & Details
Location: 301 Watkins Park Dr, Kettering, MD 20774
On-site Registration: 8:00 AM
Opening Ceremony: 9:00 AM
Walk Options: 3.1-mile walk or 1-mile “Memory” Walk
Cost: FREE (Donations encouraged)
The event features a Healing Garden Pavilion, Memory Wall, and information booths from local support organizations. Activities will center around wellness, empowerment, and connection.
Honoring Crime Victims Nationwide
In conjunction with the Walk, communities across the U.S. are holding events to raise awareness for NCVRW 2025. From vigils in Maryland to awareness campaigns in California, the shared goal remains clear: to support survivors and ensure justice through kinship and action.
