Alicia

I meant to post this a while ago but some how forgot in the craziness of life.

Today I attended a remembrance service for Alicia Hill.  She was a sex trade worker who lived in St. Catharines.  In 2009 die she died because of injuries that she sustained from a John (a customer).  One evening when turning a trick, her interactions with the John went wrong and she was put into a dangerous situation.  She tried to get out of the vehicle that she was trapped in but her purse got wrapped round her arm when she jumped out of the moving vehicle.  The John drove down the road as Alicia was trying to release herself from the vehicle.  She sustained many internal injuries.  She did not die immediately but lived for a few short years after.  She lived in physical pain after the incident.  Alicia approached the police, gave DNA and a statement but after her passing the charges were dropped.  She died from the injuries that sustained from the John. 

The most heart breaking part of this story is that after her passing she did not have a proper funeral.  Her ashes were separated (for some unknown and bazaar reason).  For three years half of her ashes have been sitting on a shelf in a funeral home while the other half rested in the ground.  Today the two halves were brought together at a proper funeral. 

No family members or friends attended because no one knows how to get a hold of them or who they even are.  Somewhere out there friends, siblings, relatives, and parents are missing a beautiful young woman.  So today about fifteen people who did not know Alicia until her death came together to celebrate the life of Alicia and be her “family.” 

It breaks my heart to think that this injustice has occurred.  No woman should ever endure this pain.  No woman should die and not have a proper remembrance.  This type of situation occurs more than we realize and my heart aches thinking about it.

I had the great privilege of speaking at Alicia’s remembrance service.  One thing that I would like to say to you, all who read this blog and support me in the work I am doing is this: thank you.  Some of the funds that were raised through the pie fundraiser were used to put on this beautiful remembrance service today.  It wouldn’t have been possible without you.  

Please check out the video link below.

http://www.chch.com/home/item/10390-seven-years-after-beating-death-alicia-hill-laid-to-rest