Our Story

In 2014, Summer Willis was raped. The trauma of the assault was compounded by a system that seemed designed to silence her and a society that too often blamed victims rather than perpetrators.

The statistics were staggering: for every 100 rapes, 99 would never see justice. Fewer than 20% of assaults were ever reported. And 70% of survivors experienced moderate to severe distress—more than victims of any other violent crime.

For a decade Summer suffered in silence remain silent, but finally, she decided to channel her pain into purpose through endurance challenges that would force people to confront the reality of sexual violence.

In the years that followed, Summer found healing through running—a way to reclaim her body and take back what had been stolen from her. What began as personal healing evolved into a powerful platform for advocacy. Her extraordinary physical feats became metaphors for the survivor journey: challenging, painful, but ultimately showcasing incredible strength and resilience.

As media attention grew, Summer connected with other survivors who shared their stories and joined her mission. What began as one woman’s healing journey transformed into Strength Through Strides—a movement dedicated to reframing how society views sexual violence and creating pathways for survivors to reclaim their power.

Today, STS works at both the grassroots and governmental levels, hosting community events, providing resources, advocating for policy reform, and producing multimedia content that amplifies survivor voices. Summer herself has taken her advocacy to the halls of Congress, championing landmark legislation including The Summer Willis Act and the SOS Campus Safety Act.