How Realities Helped Me: Abused Twins Now Have A Voice

Northern Colorado may be an affluent area, but many would be surprised to know that thousands of children in the area suffer from abuse and neglect.

The local nonprofit Realties For Children provided emergency funding for 5,618 children in 2020.

In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Townsquare Media Northern Colorado is raising awareness and funds for the essential community organization with Realities Rooftop Raise.

Townsquare radio stations New Country 99.1, Retro 102.5, 99.9 The Point, 94.3 The X and Power 102.9 are broadcasting on top of the Elizabeth Hotel rooftop for 36 hours on April 7 & 8. Donors can also contribute online or in-person, with a bucket that will be lowered up and down from the roof.

As part of the fundraiser, Townsquare Media is also profiling triumphant stories of how Realities has helped abused and neglected children in our community.

Here's one such firsthand story, submitted by a youth who overcame their adversity:

Despite the many challenges in my life, I am devoted to overcoming each obstacle that comes my way. When I was just over one year old, child protective services opened a case investigating my family due to safety concerns for me and my twin brother. My childhood consisted of abandonment, legal involvement, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, loss and exposure to illegal substances, and at age seven, I officially lost my parents. I began accepting that things would forever change throughout my childhood. In foster care, I moved six times in less than seven months. But through this all, I began to learn how to replace my unhealthy coping skills with healthier ones. And thanks to people not giving up on me, I have begun turning my feelings into words, and now, for the first time in my life — I feel like I have a voice. I want to use my voice to help other children see that they are more than their past. I have persevered and learned from my past traumatic experiences, and despite my current tribulations, I see my future as full of possibilities!