TITLE: Recognizing Summer Willis for her advocacy on behalf of survivors of sexual violence.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Summer Willis for her advocacy on behalf of survivors of sexual violence.

FULL TEXT:
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 Men ndez 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.