Feb
26
Katie Albu
Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
I founded Girls Fight Back as a direct response to the 2001 murder of my sorority sister, Shannon McNamara. And while that was the initial eye-opening event, GFB was actually founded for so many more women. A friend of mine named Nick Albu, 28, was a friend of Shannon’s from high school. From the beginning, Nick has been a huge support of GFB. Recently he and I have been working on some exciting things that will work towards a big goal: That no girl goes to college without knowing how to defend herself. This will take time, but we’re crafting a pretty cool plan. Back in 2001, Nick thought that what happened to Shannon is a once in a lifetime loss. But three years ago, his sister Katie was murdered in Phoenix, AZ. She was spending a quiet night at home with her son when she heard a fire alarm go off, and a bunch of commotion outside. So she went out the front door to investigate, and was met by a man in a rage and armed with a knife. He stabbed her 30 times. In a few days, the jury decides if this man will receive the death penalty. I just wanted to publicly say that all we do at Girls Fight Back is for every victim, survivor and family member trying to cope with a violent loss of a loved one. Much love and support to all who know this pain. To read an article all about Katie in today’s Daily Herald, click here.
Hi Erin,
Very sorry about the senseless loss of your dear friend. Unfortunately, the world is a very dangerous place with a lot of unstable characters in it. Many times I have compared the good guys of the world to gazelles at the watering hole. There is a need to be ever vigilant looking over your shoulders for the lion or in this case a two legged predator.
I like your campagin about no girl going to college without knowing how to defend herself. I see that you recommend self defense classes. This is great but I believe every woman should know how to use and carry a nonlethal self defense product with her at all times.
In my prior life I was a police detective for almost 30 years, most of it spent investigating sex crimes so I know of what I speak. Now that I am no longer on the department I own a business that sells self defense and surveillance products. This way I still have a way of protecting the “good guys”. Hope you will include, if you haven’t already, the need for something like a simple pepper spray.
Good luck with your campaign to keep girls safe.
Be safe, not sorry.
Rosalie