Experts estimate that one in ten children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday and 90 percent of those victims never report the abuse.

"This means that everywhere you see children in our community - in homes, school classrooms, daycares, churches, sports teams, choirs, marching bands, cheerleading squads, karate classes, gymnastics, dance teams - there are children silently bearing the burden of child sexual abuse alone," stated Child Advocacy Center Director Sharon De Boer.

Do not let child abuse hide in the darkness. Please join the Rutherford County Coalition Against Child Abuse for a candlelight vigil to remember the children that have suffered abuse and recognize the individuals in our community that are working to prevent child abuse.

The Candlelight Vigil will be held on Friday, April 15, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn of the historic courthouse, downtown on the Murfreesboro square. The event is open to the public and the community is encouraged to attend and show your support of child abuse victims.

In 1983, Congress declared April to be National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since then, communities across our nation and here in Rutherford and Cannon Counties have taken this opportunity to raise community awareness about child abuse and child sexual abuse.

For more information about the Child Abuse Awareness Month events including the Candlelight Vigil, Hometown Heroes Walk for Children, and the Department of Children's Services Pinwheel Garden, please contact the Child Advocacy Center at 615-867-9000 or the Department of Children's Services at 615-494-4540.