Woman, 51, Making a 3,000 Mile Bicycling Pilgrimage across Mid-America beginning May 15, 2004, to Speak Out Against Sexual Assault of Children and To Promote Her Autobiography, The Hider's Story

Jacqueline Gordon, author of the powerful new book, The Hider's Story, will ride her bike from Marinette, Wisconsin, to twelve states and about 3,000 miles beginning May 15th and ending August 10th. Each night she will speak in a different city about her experiences of childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by her biological father to raise awareness of this mostly silent crime that befalls thousands of young children in America. Her book, The Hider's Story, released in November, 2003, superbly portrays the life of a child living in the dreadful silence of abuse. While it is a sad and disturbing story, the determination and courage of this brave little girl inspire all who read it.

(PRWEB) April 19, 2004--On May 15th, Jacqueline Gordon of Marinette, Wisconsin, will set out on an approximate 3,000 mile bicycling pilgrimage across mid-America to share her courageous story of surviving twelve years of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her biological father. Ms. Gordon is the author of the powerful new book, The Hiders Story, released in November, 2003. As a target of prolonged childhood sexual abuse, she shares the psychological consequences and superbly reveals both the trauma and the resiliency of abuse victims.

Working with Sexual Assault Centers and Domestic Violence Shelters, Ms. Gordon will speak each night in a different city to share her story. Her audiences will better understand the reasons why most young victims are unable to tell someone about what is happening to them; they will better understand the extreme trauma experienced by children, and the long-term psychological affects that often last an entire life-time.

She will call on all parents, teachers, ministers, and others to take a more pro-active effort to teach the children in their care to respect the rights of others in regard to sexual conduct. With one sexual assault occurring every ninety (90) seconds in this nation, she believes America has done a very poor job in this arena. Finally, she will encourage her audience to choose goodness in their lives, to be open to personal growth and change, and to choose to become their best. Her message is one of hope, faith, and inspiration no matter what challenges life may bring.

Each Shelter or Support service agency that sponsors Ms. Gordons presentations will receive a donation of $3.00 for each book that is purchased in behalf of that agency to be used as the agency deems necessary.

Jacqueline Gordons bicycling pilgrimage route is shown below.                                     

FROM     TO        MILES    DATE    

WISCONSIN                     

Marinette, WI    Oconto, WI    22    14-May    

Oconto, WI    Green Bay, WI    33.8    15-May    

Green Bay, WI    Manitowoc, WI    42.8    16-May    

Manitowoc, WI    Sheboygan, WI    29.3    16-May    

Sheboygan, WI    Milwaukee, WI    55.8    22-May                              

ILLINOIS                    

Milwaukee, WI    Waukegan, IL    52.5    23-May    

Waukegan, IL    Chicago, IL    47.7    29-May    

Chicago, IL    Momence, IL    52.9    30-May    

Momence, IL    Hoopeston, IL    55.5    31-May    

Attend Book Expo America in Chicago (No Biking)June 4-5-6    

Hoopeston, IL    Ridge Farm, IL    41.4    12-Jun    

INDIANA                        

Ridge Farm, IL    Terre Haute,IN    45.7    13-Jun    

Terre Haute,IN    Vincennes, IN    58    14-Jun    

Vincennes, IN    Evansville, IN    52    15-Jun    

KENTUCKY                    

Evansville, IN    Madisonville,KY    47.9    16-Jun    

TENNESSEE        

Madisonville,KY    Clarksville, TN    56.3    17-Jun

Clarksville, TN    Frkln/Nshvle,TN    48.4    18-Jun    

Rest Days - June 18, 19, 20 - Nashville, TN                    

Nashville, TN    Pulaski,TN    58.4    21-Jun    

ALABAMA                    

Pulaski, TN    Decatur, AL    48.9    22-Jun    

Decatur, AL    Cullman, AL    33.8    23-Jun    

Cullman, AL    Birmingham, AL    51.1    24-Jun    

Birmingham, AL    Tuscaloosa, AL    58    25-Jun    

Tuscaloosa, AL    Lizziville, AL    41.7    26-Jun    

June 27th - Rest day - Lizziville, Alabama                    

MISSISSIPPI            

Lizziville, AL    Meridian, MS    53.2    28-Jun    

Meridian, MS    Newton, MS    29.3    29-Jun    

Newton, MS    Brandon, MS    50.1    30-Jun    

Brandon, MS    Edwards, MS    38.9    1-Jul    

LOUISIANA                

Edwards, MS    Tallulah, LA    41.8    2-Jul    

Tallulah, LA    Monroe, LA    57.6    3-Jul    

July 4th - Rest Day - Monroe, Louisiana                    

Monroe, LA    Arcadia, LA    47.6    5-Jul    

Arcadia, LA    Shreveport, LA    49.1    6-Jul    

TEXAS                

Shreveport, LA    Longview, TX    61.6    7-Jul    

Longview, TX    Van, TX        56.9    8-Jul    

Van, TX        Forney, TX    52.2    9-Jul    

Forney, TX    Fort Worth, TX    64.2    10-Jul    

Rest Days - July 11, 12, 13 - Fort Worth, Texas                    

Fort Worth, TX    Valley View, TX    55.9    14-Jul    

OKLAHOMA                

Valley View, TX    Ardmore, OK    50.2    15-Jul    

Ardmore, OK    Paul'sValleyOK    44.9    16-Jul    

Paul'sValley,OK    Moore, OK    48.4    17-Jul    

Rest Day - July 18 - Bethany, Oklahoma                    

Moore, OK    Meeker, OK    54.3    19-Jul    

Meeker, OK    Bristow, OK    47.4    20-Jul    

Bristow, OK    Catoosa/Tulsa,OK47.4    21-Jul    

Catoosa, OK    Vinita, OK    50.4    22-Jul    

MISSOURI                    

Vinita, OK    Joplin, MO    52.3    23-Jul    

Joplin, MO    Mt. Vernon, MO    41.8    24-Jul    

Rest Day - July 25 - Mt. Vernon, Missouri                    

Mt. Vernon, MO    Springfield, MO    34.1    26-Jul    

Springfield, MO    Urbana, MO    48.4    27-Jul    

Urbana, MO    Osage Beach, MO    50    28-Jul    

Osage Beach, MO    Jeffsn City, MO    46.2    29-Jul    

Jeffrsn City,MO Mexico, MO    48.2    30-Jul    

Mexico, MO    Hannibal, MO    59.2    31-Jul    

Rest Day - August 1 - Hannibal, Missouri                    

ILLINOIS            

Hannibal, MO    Chambersburg,IL 52.8    2-Aug    

Chambersburg,IL    Havana, IL    57.5    3-Aug    

Havana, IL    Peoria, IL    44.9    4-Aug    

Peoria, IL    Granville, IL    53.8    5-Aug    

Granville, IL    Newark, IL    49.6    6-Aug    

Newark, IL    Wheaton, IL    42.2    7-Aug    

Chicago, IL        Trip End    9-Aug    

APPROXIMATE TOTAL MILES BIKED        +2717.3    

Ms. Gordon will be seeking corporate sponsors for printing costs, gasoline, and motorhome rental.