A solo run has inspired dozens of people to join a campaign to reduce domestic violence in the Hunter community.

This Sunday, Got Your Back Sista Chairperson Belinda Smith will run 21 kilometres to help raise awareness of domestic violence and the services that the charity provides to help empower women and their children to thrive after experiencing violence.

More than 130 people have registered to raise funds as part of the charity’s 2020 ‘Say No to Domestic Violence’ campaign.

The charity understands that many more are also undertaking their own run or walk.

Belinda will start her journey at 7am and will run through the inner suburbs of Newcastle, finishing at Empire Park in Bar Beach at about 9.30am.

Got Your Back Sista Founder Melissa Histon said the charity could not undertake large scale events as in the past four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Belinda’s run serves as an inspiring metaphor of the role that Got Your Back Sista has in helping women thrive after escaping domestic violence,” she said.

“We run to help all the ‘hers’.

“Each year, we ask the community to ‘Say No to Domestic Violence’ but, this year, we are also asking our community to think about what they can do as individuals to help eliminate violence.”

Together with individual fundraisers, Got Your Back Sista expects to raise about $40,000 that will be used for a number of programs, which include the purchase household items for women that are establishing safe homes, mentoring and empowerment workshops, self-defence programs, educational and skills courses.

Visit Got Your Back Sista’s website or Facebook page for more information.