It was “A Crazy Love Affair” at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman on Friday 13 September, with best-selling author Leslie Morgan Steiner captivating an audience more than 220 strong.

Ms Morgan Steiner spoke frankly and honestly about her personal experience as a victim of domestic violence in her first marriage and how her eventual escape from that relationship prompted her to write her book Crazy Love and do a TED talk, which has now been viewed by over 1 million viewers.  The room was absolutely silent as she recounted her years of marriage to an abusive man and why, as an intelligent, well-educated woman from a solid family, she not only fell in love with, but stayed with a man who almost killed her.

Raising more than US$15,000, the sold-out luncheon event also had supporting exhibitors, creating a mini ‘side-walk sale’ vibe, encouraging people to buy from local small businesses, and featured a self-defence demonstration by Purple Dragon.  Leslie also presented at a book signing at Books & Books in Camana Bay on Saturday evening.

Cayman Islands Crisis Centre Chairman Len Layman, gave his thanks to Leslie Morgan Steiner after her presentation and also issued an empowering challenge to the men in the room to understand that domestic violence is an issue for men, not just for women.

Event organiser, Denise Gower of Fountainhead Business Development and board member of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre said:  “It was important for us to speak to a demographic of professional women about the issue of domestic violence as they are particularly difficult to reach.  Leslie’s story is heart-warming and full of hope.  The statistics say that one in every four women in that room have been or are being abused by their partners. It is our hope that Leslie’s words will spark those women to pursue a life free from violence”.

The next Crisis Centre fundraising event is the 11th annual Jingle Bell Walk Run, which is taking place on 8 December 2013 and registration is now open on CaymanActive.com.  To find out more about the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre or how you can donate, visit www.cicc.ky.

Editor’s Notes:

The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre is a locally run charitable company that was established in early 2003 with a primary mandate of providing a safe haven for abused women and their children.  The Crisis Centre has a 24-hour emergency hotline (943-CICC (2422)) and vital in-house programmes, including case and risk management, individual and group counseling, support groups, referral services and a Children and Youth Programme, which is sponsored by Hedge Funds Care Cayman.