It’s a crisis that many young women face.

Alone, frightened and thinking there is no alternative, many young pregnant women opt to have an abortion. It’s something which Sondra Tate, executive director of Sav-a-Life in Dallas County, is hoping to prevent.

Sav-a-Life, a nationwide organization which provides abstinence education,

post-abortion counseling and various resources for women who feel they have no other place to turn, is dedicated to helping those women who feel there is no alternative, Tate said.

“We are there to educate women about the alternatives that are there when women are faced with an unwanted pregnancy,” Tate said.

Tate said the organization tries to encourage alternatives like single parenthood or adoption, rather than abortion.

“Basically our organization helps those who are faced with the situation to learn to deal with the situation,” Tate said. “Through our counseling, we also try to share the gospel of Christ and basically encourage those we counsel to turn to the Lord for guidance.”

Tate said that since the center opened last summer, they have counseled more than 30 women.

“So far, it’s been very successful,” she said. “The only problem, right now, is that we are trying to get the word out to more people in Dallas County that we are there to help them.”

One stumbling block, said Tate, is advertising.

“People only know we are around when they look us up in the phone book,” she said. “Unfortunately, we just don’t have the funds to advertise as much as we would like to.”

To raise more money for Sav-a-Life, the organization will be holding its first annual two mile walk-a-thon Saturday starting at 10 a.m. The walk will begin at the First Baptist Church, located on Lauderdale Street.

Tate said they are expecting at least 75 walkers, and that the walk would take place mainly around the Old District.

“People are not expected to run for this,” she said. “It’ll just be walking.”

Tate said she is not sure how much money has been raised so far.

“Whatever the amount we raise will be really helpful,” she said. “And we encourage everyone to come and participate.”