One woman has made it her mission to let victims of sexual assault know they are not alone.
Kate Rush-Cook is an advocate for victims because 20 years ago, she was a victim.
"He kidnapped me and repeatedly raped me. He had me drive to a non-residential area where he repeatedly raped me," Rush-Cook said. "I wanted to be a fashion designer. I wanted to move to New York City and that girl died that night, and her dreams died, and I am who I am today."
It was a six hour nightmare in August of 1993 and it still haunts her.
"I know that it's a life sentence. Sometimes I have to make a conscious effort to remind myself that I'm in the here and now and I'm fine," she said.
Now she uses her experience to help others.
"I can be a voice for other people who choose not to use their name," Rush-Cook said.
See more from the ABC2 special Community in Crisis: Violence Against Women:
Rape crisis and recovery centers in Maryland
Erin's Law aims to educate K-12 students about sexual assault, sexual abuse
How to talk to your child about sexual assault
Lethality Assessment Program used to identify potentially deadly relationships
Sexual abuse survivors shut down North Ave with The Monument Quilt
SAFE Program at GBMC empowers sexual assault victims
Advocate fights to end street harassment through local non-profit
INFOGRAPHIC: Sexual violence against women by the numbers
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