On May 1, 2016, Pei and Julia will join 32,000 other bike riders in lower Manhattan for the start of the 40-mile TD Five Boro Bike Tour. They’ll ride through car-free streets of Manhattan, bump up into the Bronx, cross into Queens and Brooklyn, eventually ending – and celebrating – with a ride across the enormous Verrazano Bridge into Staten Island.

Who are Pei and Julia? They are incredible women – survivors, advocates, and members of Sanctuary’s Mentors Program. While attending a Mentors Meeting earlier this year, Pei and Julia learned that Sanctuary was once again building a team to ride in the tour. Both avid bikers eager to take on a challenge and give back, they signed up together.

As members of the team, Pei and Julia have committed to fundraising as they train for the tour. Their goal is to raise $4,000 together in support of Sanctuary.

To help meet that goal, Pei and Julia have organized a happy hour event at the popular Brooklyn bar DSK Beer Garden, located at 710 Fulton Street.  The happy hour will take place on April 14th from 6-9 pm, and 50% of the proceeds will go directly to their fundraising campaign.  You can RSVP for the event here.

The Mentors Program was established in 1995 to provide past Sanctuary clients with the opportunity to become powerful advocates for ending gender violence.  Mentors build on their own experiences in order to increase community awareness about Sanctuary’s mission and work.

As Sanctuary Mentors, Pei and Julia work in the community to advocate for victims of teen dating violence, victims of violence in NYCHA housing, and participate in marches, walks and marathons to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Mentors also accompany current Sanctuary clients to court appearances to provide support.

The program also focuses on self-empowerment – Pei, Julia, and other Mentors attend conferences and workshops on domestic violence to educate themselves and learn valuable skills to help other victims.

Pei decided to become a Mentor because she wants to help other victims and survivors receive the support they need to rebuild their lives, and become their own heroines. For Pei, the Mentors Program serves multiple purposes, as it provides a support group to survivors while also empowering them to be powerful advocates and supporters for current victims of domestic violence.

“I hold the time that I spend with the other Mentors dearly, and it gives me time to breathe and tosit down and simply share my experience and emotions without the feeling of being judged,” says Pei. “The Sanctuary Mentors Program has done a lot for my life after the abuse. It helped me rebuild my life, my personality, and my self-esteem with a supportive network. It gave me a way to give back after all the help I received from Sanctuary.”

Julia agrees. “The services I received from Sanctuary helped empower me to make positive changes in my personal life that have lasting effects,” she says. “This inspired me to want to be a Mentor and advocate to help others see the choices they have that allow them to step into the life they truly desire.”

Happy Hour Fundraiser at DSK Brooklyn Beergarden

Admission to Pei and Julia’s fundraising happy hour at DSK Beer Garden on April 15 is $20, which includes a beer, a sandwich, and an evening of fun with Sanctuary and friends at Brooklyn’s favorite beer garden. $10 from each admission goes directly towards Julia and Pei’s fundraising effort.  You can RSVP for the event here, and please bring your friends.  All are welcome!

If you’re not able to join us but would like to help Pei and Julia in their fundraising efforts, you can donate directly to their fundraising campaign.