Welcome from Courtney and Alexa
Saturday, March 15th, 2008 by ACHE
Hey, we wanted to thank everyone for sharing their stories and having so many people write to us. We are now starting a blog so it will be easier for everyone to talk to us and won’t take as long for us to respond. I know it’s hard but I hope everyone will continue to have the courage and strength to share their stories.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Hey you guys!
I am so proud to hear of your story, I think you two are incredibly brave and hope you continue your web site as you are doing a wonderful thing for so many. I also used to coach in NorCal for Head over Heels from 1997-2002 with Leesa and remember you two very well. I’m glad to see you doing fine! Keep up the great work!!!
Peik
July 19th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
well.. it’s like I knew!
January 26th, 2009 at 11:17 am
i was 43 before memorise of abuse by to step fathers. yet wat made it the most terror and feelings of abandament was the fact that i was also sexualy abused by my mother. she and her husbands treated me as an insignificant thing.i had no memories be for 1989. some victems said i was lucky. i understand how they feel. and yet i didn’t have a chance to tell. i have been on disability twice now and i am 62. i was unable to prosicute any one because it was over 10 yrs. i would like to see that law changed, plus a much stiffer penalty for the abusers. they do not need to fear much prosicuting time. i do not allways agree with the death penalty, yet the have taken of life as it could of been. i had a lot of trouble learning in school and dificulty on jobs because of self esteem. i do want to say i have came a long way. i fought for quality helpers in the psyce field for the best of care because now i know i do mater in this world. thank you for your time. PATSY
November 13th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hey Ladies,
Thank ya’ll so much for the courageous way you stepped out and said what happened. Now ya’ll have this amazing website for other people to share their experience, strength, and hope with all the victims of sexual abuse. I am a recovering survivor of sexual abuse. I minimized the affects of my abuse for almost 30 years. After suffering years of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks it finally occured to me. What happened to me when i was 4 and 5 years old could be affecting me in my day to day relationships now. I still struggle with my past, but I know my future can only get brighter as I continue to work through my abuse issues. You two are so brave and I admire ya’ll. Thank ya’ll for making it an easier subject to discuss. Keep up the amazing work. God is definitely working through you two.
Always, Mo
September 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I saw you girls on Montel Williams show. I just wanted to say how brave and courageous you two girls are by sharing your stories in order to help other girls. I am in my forties now and was abused by a family member for years and never had anyone I could trust enough to tell. I have just in the last few years been dealing with the pain that it caused me. I wish that when I was your age there were people as brave as you two willing to reach out and let girls know they are not alone. Its not an easy road but there is life after abuse and this is what I am finally learning now. I admire you both so much and I wish you all the happiness you so deserve.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Dear Courtney and Alexa,
I live in Pleasanton and I’m so proud to live in the same city as you two. You have accomplished more in your young lives than most people ever have. You are saving children from isolation and shame. How does that feel? I hope you two feel as amazing as you are!
July 14th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I admire you girls for your courage, strength, honesty, and most of all for sharing your story with the world. You’ve empowered other victims with confidence and valuable information when you stepped forward and publicly shared your story. I know your story will encourage and help other victims to report abuse and seek help.
You’re doing great work as child advocates. Keep it up. Thank you for being such wonderful young women who care about others. May you stay safe, strong and happy.
Luann
July 13th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
hey alexa. i dont know if you remember me but i went to CGA with you for a while. i was friends with rachel.
i think its amazing how you can still do gymnastics with what happened, and i didnt even know this happened untill yesterday. I love how you never let this effect you because at all the practices and meets i saw you working really hard and then doing awesome at meets, and always being happy through it. You always seemed like a leader to all the little girls. hope you get back in gymnastics soon.
-jess
May 9th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Hi Courtney and Alexa. First of all I am extremely proud of you both for stepping out with boldness and conviction against your perpetrator. I was sexually abused as a child, and also date-raped in college. Charges were never pressed and there were no support groups that I was able to get into during those times…however, I did spend time helping out at a Rape Crisis Center. I just want to encourage anyone, male or female, who’s experienced sexual abuse and feel like their bodies may have “betrayed” them if they experienced any pleasure mixed in with horror at what was we being done to them: Our bodies were designed to give and recieve pleasure; it wasn’t our fault if someone used their own time table to take advantage of us and our innocence. We shouldn’t turn the anger on ourselves. Put it where it belongs…on the perpetrator! I believe if he/she isn’t held accountable in this lifetime, they will certainly be held accountable in the next! (Quote from John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted” after his son was kidnapped, probably raped and murdered.)
Thank you for making it “safe” for me and others to share our stories. Laura C.
April 19th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Hey i watched your story on E60
first let me say that im very sorry about what happened to you. Next let me say that im a gymnastics coach. I have been around some coachs who im not so sure about and i think what you are doing takes a lot of strength
good luck
April 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Hello.. it has been about five years since I have step foot in a gym. Back in 2000, my coach started abusing and molesting myself and three other teammates of mine. At first, I admit, it was really odd but I was young and knew a very minimal amount about these kinds of things at the time. Anyway, the molestation lasted for about three years… I took it really hard when my coach was actually fired because it was that day that I truly believe I lost my family. Gymnastics was my life and the fact that it was taken away just like that was too overwhelming for me to handle. Shortly after he left, I developed a severe eating problem and for the next four years worked in destroying myself. This past August I was eventually released from institutions (group homes), treatment centers, and hospitals and I have been out ever since. However, on a constant basis I think about “it.” Anyway, I hold you in my highest respect Courtney and Alexa, for doing this. I had been too afraid back then to even talk about anything.. but you two did. I hope you find joy in life every day. Take care… and what are your email addresses??
P.S – Courtney, since gymnastics I too have taken up running. =)
Write back please!
April 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
hey girls. what you both are doing is very admirable, and I am so sorry that this happened to the both of you, and other girls at Cal West. Courtney, I’m glad that you found solace in another sport, & I know it’s so extremely hard to quit something that you love. Alexa, I’m glad that you are still continuing the sport and I hope that you do receive a college scholarship in gymnastics. I am a gymnast myself, and even though I didn’t go to Cal West, this still hits close to home because I was born and raised in Fremont, I used to see Robert at meets, and when I became a coach myself, I had met Robert at Congress. I remember when I came to the gym for work, my co-worker tells me about the the article on Robert, and I was in utter shock. You are both very strong women, and will continue to be strong throughout your lives. You both are truly making a difference at such a young age, and I wish you both the best in your future endeavors!
April 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Heard about your story on Good Morning America. I was sexually abused by a coach in 9th and 10th grades until I convinced my parents to let me change schools. I didn’t tell anyone until I was in college and going through some hard times. Thank you for reaching out to others – I know I still feel shame around what happened to me even though I’m in my 40s and a mother of two young girls. I pray that what happened to me does not happen to them. Good luck with your foundation… I will be writing a check.
April 15th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Hey Alexa and Courtney.
My name is Courtney. I’m 14.
I was abused for five years. I just told about three months ago.
And it feels good to share my story. And it’s even more amazing to share it on a website with other people who have had it happen to them before.
It gives me hope in knowing that theres light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s amazing and beyond of you two to make this.
But it also really helps people… inside.
I can’t thank you enough.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hello Courtney and Alexa! My name is Jessica and I just finished watching the Montel Show when you guys had aired on it. I am so happy to know that as young as you both are and the courage you had to speak out about what happen to you both. I am now at the age of 18 and when I was 10 till about 13 I was sexually abused as well. It was painful because when I had the courage to tell about what had happened to me a lot of my family members didn’t believe me and I had to go through a long process alone and it felt like it was not worth anything because the man who did it to me was my step grandfather and he was never charged with anything and now lives life like if nothing ever happen. The only person who believed in me is my MOM. Basically my point is since I couldn’t raise an awareness or do anything about what happen to me at least you both are doing it. CONGRATULATIONS on helping other teens and I hope one day I can be a help for you. God Bless!!
April 9th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I haven’t personally been abused, but I’m so happy that you started this. Thanks for giving hope to other children. This is really a big deal for other people. So, thanks for all your determination and help.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:29 pm
hey courtney…i don’t know if you remember me.i went to cal west when i was nine from 2000 to 2001 and i was like 2 or 3 levels below you.
anyways…i always looked up to you a lot because you were an amazing gymnast and i always thought you were great.
but i gotta say that i still look up to you, maybe even more, for what you did…telling your mom about what was happening and everything.if you hadn’t stepped forward, i can’t imagine how many more girls could have had the same thing happen to them. and its really awesome to me that you started the whole A.C.H.E foundation…i know that its going to help a lot of people.
so good luck with everything…i pray that your story changes the lives of many many other girls.
~sharai