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"As a survivor, don't blame yourself"

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  
The Air Force recognizes the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and provides resources on how to prevent the crime from happening. One resource, Shelly Monahan-Cain, was invited for a second time to speak to the Airmen on base about her experiences.

She spoke about her personal rape story during an event held by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office at the Red Morgan Center April 14.

"I promised God that if he would let me make it out alive, that I would turn it into a positive and I would spend the rest of my life talking about it," said Monahan-Cain. "If I could talk to one single group and keep it from happening to somebody else, then that is what I wanted to do."

Monahan-Cain was one of the 40 victims of the "South Hill Rapist" a high profile criminal in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"I like to use the word survivor instead of victim," Monahan-Cain said. "Don't let something that happened to you one time define who you are and control you for the rest of your life."

Monahan-Cain has spoken across the country at more than 4,500 sexual assault and rape recovery talks over the last 20 years; including multiple television appearances, high school assemblies, church groups and women's and men's groups.

During her speech, she explained her encounter with the South Hill Rapist and how she was able to overcome the rape and turn such a dark time into a positive.

"I thought her message was strong and empowering," said Airman 1st Class Cua Beckers, 92nd Air Refueling Wing military justice paralegal. "She helps motivate survivors to speak up for themselves and not be ashamed of being the victim of that crime."

For more information on what you can do or how to help someone you know who has been the victim of sexual assault, contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at (509) 247- 4771.