Known best for her work as a professional dancer on the hit ABC reality show "Dancing with the Stars," Cheryl Burke assumed a new role today: Advocate for survivors of molestation and abuse. The talented performer shared during an interview with "People" that as a child, she was molested by a family friend, but it didn't end there. She also confessed to suffering abuse at the hands of two previous boyfriends.
Further details about the two-time "Dancing" champ's experiences with abuse and her subsequent revelations are available via her new book, "Dancing Lessons: How I Found Passion and Potential on the Dance Floor and in Life", which is set for release on February 8. According to the interview, she hopes that her story will help at least one person who suffered through a similar experience as a young person.
Sadly, stories of childhood sexual abuse aren't rare, and celebrities are far from immune to the despicable practice. Fortunately, many are willing to use their star power to help ease the pain of others.
"Desperate Housewives" star Teri Hatcher revealed that she'd been abused by an uncle in a 2006 "Vanity Fair" interview. Like Burke, Hatcher's abuser began taking advantage of her when she was just 5 years of age and she rightfully deemed it "the greatest trauma of her life". Like Burke, Hatcher made an effort to help others facing like circumstances, in her case, privately making statements against her uncle when a 14-year old girl committed suicide after suffering abuse at his hand many years later. Thanks to the actress' participation in the investigation, her then 64-year old relative was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Talk show host and mega personality Oprah Winfrey is also a survivor of childhood molestation and uses her public persona to shed light on the often taboo subject. In November of 2010, her popular afternoon program hosted 200 men who suffered childhood sexual abuse, giving them a venue for expressing their pain and reminding viewers that young boys -- and not only girls -- can indeed find themselves in abusive situations.
While Cheryl Burke, Teri Hatcher and Oprah Winfrey all came forward with their stories, scores of other survivors of childhood sexual abuse continue to suffer in silence. If you or someone you know needs support, there are online resources that can help. RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, is a great place to start.
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