The London Abused Women's Centre announced the launch of a new November campaign last week that aims to shine a light, literally, on abuse against women.

The Shine the Light campaign was inspired by a board member's trip to New York State. Purple lights, windows and posters illuminated the community as a means to bring attention to the issue.

In Ontario, November marks women abuse prevention month.

“As a community we've become desensitized because it happens so commonly,” said Megan Walker, executive director of LAWC. “It's often buried in back pages of newspaper.”

“We don't believe it's given the prominence it deserves.”

The campaign will run the entire month and include various activities. November 15 will be a wear purple day. November 5 to 7 will be the Dave Richard's Memorial four-on-four co-ed adult ball hockey tournament in partnership with Ball Hockey International London.

“Dave Richard was a real friend to the LAWC ... We want to honour him and his contributions to ending violence against women,” said Walker.

The month will have events for both men and women and the centre encourages everyone in the community to get involved, she said.

The Shine the Light campaign will be giving violence against women a face - the faces of four local women who lost their lives to violence, to be exact. Vahida Blazevic was 42 years old when she was killed. She came to Canada with her husband and two children, but was suffering posttraumatic stress disorder, which was not properly treated. She left her family and ended up with a drug addict who tried to prostitute her and beat her on numerous occasions, eventually murdering her.

There is also Brenda Lee Chillingworth, who at 38 was shot to death by her estranged husband who then turned the gun on himself. She loved to cook and worked as a cafeteria worker at Lucas Secondary School. She left behind her young son and teenage daughter.

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Bol was killed after an ex-boyfriend shot her to death. She left behind her mother, father, sister and child. “She had her whole life ahead of her,” said Walker.

Finally, there is Cheryl Hohner, 31 years old and in the final month of her pregnancy when she was killed. It was her first child and she was so excited about it, said Walker. Shortly after her death, her two parents died and an officer on that case said it was likely due to a broken heart.

The campaign will not only act as a means of awareness but as remembrance. “What happens when women are killed, their families have a great fear their loved ones will be forgotten,” said Walker.

“We will not forget them.”

For more information on the campaign and a list of events, check out http://lawc.on.ca/shinethelight.html

l. The LAWC will be hosting a purple- themed night at the Barking Frog on Friday, November 5. Dress in purple and pay $5 for a wristband to help a great cause and avoid the line!