Clitoraid's volunteer surgeon to speak at the Walk to End FGM in Washington DC, endorsed by Governor Hogan of Maryland

Washington DC, Friday Oct 30 - Dr. Marci Bowers, Clitoraid's volunteer surgeon will be the keynote speaker at the Walk to End FGM in Washington DC, Saturday Oct 31 hosted by the Global Women P.E.A.C.E. Foundation . In the past eight year, Dr. Bowers, a renowned gender reassignment surgeon in San Francisco, CA has been surgically restoring the clitoris of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) victims both in the US and in Burkina Faso, Africa.

The Walk to End FGM has been endorsed by Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland who stated in writing: “Thank you for your efforts to raise awareness for and to help prevent this horrible trend. It is my hope that this year’s Walk to End FGM will mark a milestone in both participation and donations raised so that you may continue this crucial work for years to come.”

The Walk also received Well Wishes from a number of U.S. State Governors. Calls were received from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe and California Governor, Jerry Brown. Governors Andrew Cuomo of New York and Jay Inslee of Washington sent letters with “best wishes for a successful event”.

Female Genital Mutilation is a heinous and atrocious practice, which is the intentional removal of either part or all of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. According to current statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 513,000 girls are either at risk or are living with the consequences of FGM in the U.S.

The event will be hosted by Angela Peabody, president of Global Women P.E.A.C.E. Foundation whose organization will issue Recognition Awards to eleven deserving women at this year’s walk-A-thon.

Shelby Quast, Project Director for Equality Now will be among the guest speakers as well as three brave survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM). The President of the Guinean Women Association in the U.S. along with Miss Guinea are expected to be in attendance.

This second annual Walk to End FGM will take place Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 8:00am on the National Mall in Washington, D.C at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 15th Street, NW. The proceeds from the walk-A-thon will benefit The Global Woman SUPPORT CENTERS located in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, VA., serving survivors and at-risk girls of female genital mutilation (FGM). Special Media passes will be issued to members of the Media on location.

Speakers and Award Recipients will be available for interviews prior to, during or following the event.