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| Success of fund for New Orleans rape victim set to help others in city | Success of fund for New Orleans rape victim set to help others in city |
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| The benefits of an internet fundraising campaign are not often afforded to victims of crime. But the unexpected success of an appeal to help a rape victim in New Orleans means that not only is her future more secure, but others in the city will benefit too. | The benefits of an internet fundraising campaign are not often afforded to victims of crime. But the unexpected success of an appeal to help a rape victim in New Orleans means that not only is her future more secure, but others in the city will benefit too. |
| Thanks to local and high-profile national support the fund, which was initially set up to help relocate the victim, has collected more than four times its initial target of $10,000. Friends of the victim, Karen (not her real name), and the New Orleans online community were quickly joined by international donors. As well as activity on local Facebook and Twitter feeds, friends persuaded high-profile idols of Karen's, including the musician Amanda Palmer and her husband, the writer Neil Gaiman, to tweet links. Donations have now been received from almost 900 people across seven continents, including a donor from a research base in Antarctica. | Thanks to local and high-profile national support the fund, which was initially set up to help relocate the victim, has collected more than four times its initial target of $10,000. Friends of the victim, Karen (not her real name), and the New Orleans online community were quickly joined by international donors. As well as activity on local Facebook and Twitter feeds, friends persuaded high-profile idols of Karen's, including the musician Amanda Palmer and her husband, the writer Neil Gaiman, to tweet links. Donations have now been received from almost 900 people across seven continents, including a donor from a research base in Antarctica. |
| The story began on the evening of 4 February, in a quiet part of the Garden District neighbourhood. Karen, 30, was abducted at gunpoint as she parked her car. She was forced into another car and robbed, beaten and repeatedly raped by three assailants as they drove around. They eventually abandoned Karen close to her home, before stealing her car. She walked back to her building. As she arrived and her landlord came to comfort her, her first words were, "Don't touch me. I'm evidence." | The story began on the evening of 4 February, in a quiet part of the Garden District neighbourhood. Karen, 30, was abducted at gunpoint as she parked her car. She was forced into another car and robbed, beaten and repeatedly raped by three assailants as they drove around. They eventually abandoned Karen close to her home, before stealing her car. She walked back to her building. As she arrived and her landlord came to comfort her, her first words were, "Don't touch me. I'm evidence." |
| Reports of Karen's bravery travelled fast. Local social networks lit up with the story, expressing shock at the events and providing links to the fund. More celebrity support was forthcoming: Jesse Manley, 31, the victim's partner, said: "Lena Dunham of the HBO show Girls and the cast and crew of FX show Archer sent personalized videos. Dunham and director Judd Apatow also sent care packages, as did an executive at HBO." | Reports of Karen's bravery travelled fast. Local social networks lit up with the story, expressing shock at the events and providing links to the fund. More celebrity support was forthcoming: Jesse Manley, 31, the victim's partner, said: "Lena Dunham of the HBO show Girls and the cast and crew of FX show Archer sent personalized videos. Dunham and director Judd Apatow also sent care packages, as did an executive at HBO." |
| At the time of publication, with just over five weeks left in the campaign, total donations amounted to just over US$40,000. "We haven't personally pushed it at all," said Manley. "It's just been completely word of mouth and amid all that's going on, we're incredibly touched and frankly pretty baffled." | At the time of publication, with just over five weeks left in the campaign, total donations amounted to just over US$40,000. "We haven't personally pushed it at all," said Manley. "It's just been completely word of mouth and amid all that's going on, we're incredibly touched and frankly pretty baffled." |
| Manley acknowledged that not every rape victim in New Orleans benefits from such attention. "We know this happens to other people. Many of them aren't even this lucky. It's a tragedy every single time. This time it happened to Karen, and if through the short public life of this story we can help others as well as healing, then that's what we want to do." | Manley acknowledged that not every rape victim in New Orleans benefits from such attention. "We know this happens to other people. Many of them aren't even this lucky. It's a tragedy every single time. This time it happened to Karen, and if through the short public life of this story we can help others as well as healing, then that's what we want to do." |
| An anonymous local donor said: "It's not that I think this rape is 'special'. I think people would be just as generous if they had heard there was a fundraiser for other such horrific incidents. The ease of the platform of the fundraiser made it easy to give and this is the only fundraiser for a rape victim I've ever even heard about." | An anonymous local donor said: "It's not that I think this rape is 'special'. I think people would be just as generous if they had heard there was a fundraiser for other such horrific incidents. The ease of the platform of the fundraiser made it easy to give and this is the only fundraiser for a rape victim I've ever even heard about." |
| Manley said that Karen, a staff member at a local university, had quickly decided that she did not want to be the only person to benefit from the campaign. "She asked us to change the message on the fundraising site," he said. "She wanted to add links to make it so that people could also donate to charities supporting other victims of sexual violence." | Manley said that Karen, a staff member at a local university, had quickly decided that she did not want to be the only person to benefit from the campaign. "She asked us to change the message on the fundraising site," he said. "She wanted to add links to make it so that people could also donate to charities supporting other victims of sexual violence." |
| He said it was hard to estimate what Karen's final costs will be. "At the moment, we are spending out of pocket and being very fiscally responsible," he said. | He said it was hard to estimate what Karen's final costs will be. "At the moment, we are spending out of pocket and being very fiscally responsible," he said. |
| The financial demands of long-term counseling and mental health programmes – which are not covered by Karen's insurance policies – are also unclear at this point. Manley said that some of the money donated would be passed on to charities. | The financial demands of long-term counseling and mental health programmes – which are not covered by Karen's insurance policies – are also unclear at this point. Manley said that some of the money donated would be passed on to charities. |
| Support from New Orleans has been vocal and swift. "This is just how we do things here," said another anonymous donor, who said they did not know Karen. "We look after our own in this city, and when one of us is hurt, we step up, even if we don't know that person." | Support from New Orleans has been vocal and swift. "This is just how we do things here," said another anonymous donor, who said they did not know Karen. "We look after our own in this city, and when one of us is hurt, we step up, even if we don't know that person." |
| The fundraising campaign for "Karen" can be found here. | The fundraising campaign for "Karen" can be found here. |
| The family also wish to point people to the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children in New Orleans. | The family also wish to point people to the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children in New Orleans. |
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