SR545 - Recognizing Summer Willis for her advocacy on behalf of survivors of sexual violence.

          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 545          WHEREAS, Summer Willis has worked to reframe the narrative   around sexual assault and to empower survivors to reclaim their   stories; and          WHEREAS, In October 2014, Summer Willis, who was then a   19-year-old sophomore at The University of Texas at Austin, was   drugged and raped while at a party; after the assault, she fell into a   depression and was later involved in an abusive relationship; she   eventually started running as a way to heal, and in one year, she ran   29 marathons to raise awareness for survivors of sexual violence,   ending her campaign at the 2024 Chicago Marathon; she also went on to   establish Strength Through Strides, a nonprofit organization   dedicated to helping women overcome trauma through health and   wellness; and          WHEREAS, At the Austin Marathon on February 16, 2025,   Ms. Willis embarked on her most recent campaign, "The Last Time We   Crawl"; in order to bring awareness to the excruciatingly painful and   slow healing process that survivors of sexual assault experience,   she crawled 13.1 miles for a total of 13.5 hours; in a powerful and   unexpected moment, she ran the second half of the marathon, a   metaphor for the survivor's journey from trauma to triumph; and          WHEREAS, The actions Ms. Willis has taken have generated   national media coverage and conversations about sexual violence,   inspired survivors to share their stories, and raised funds for   survivor assistance programs; in addition, she has catalyzed support   for legislative reform that would redefine consent and strengthen   policies to protect survivors of sexual assault; and          WHEREAS, Through her steadfast dedication, selfless service,   and exemplary leadership, Summer Willis is working toward creating a   world where survivors of sexual violence are met with belief,   support, and justice, and she is indeed deserving of recognition for   her outstanding efforts; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th   Legislature, hereby honor Summer Willis for her advocacy on behalf   of survivors of sexual violence and extend to her sincere best   wishes for continued success with her vital work; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be   prepared for Ms. Willis as an expression of high regard from the   Texas Senate.     Paxton     Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez   Bettencourt Hall Middleton   Birdwell Hancock Miles   Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols   Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Parker   Cook Huffman Perry   Creighton Hughes Schwertner   Eckhardt Johnson Sparks   Flores King West   Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini     Patrick, President of the Senate             ________________________________          President of the Senate               I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on May 19, 2025.             ________________________________          Secretary of the Senate             ________________________________           Member, Texas Senate