ROCHESTER, N.Y. — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and survivor wants to help spark dialogue.

Kim Hill is getting ready for an annual family trip to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio. Her son’s birthday is coming up, and her family enjoys what the amusement park does for Halloween.

“It’s all decorated for Halloween, just like Darian Lake’s Halloween Weekend,” Hill said. “So there will be haunted houses, trick or treating, and a lot of kids will be dressed up in their costumes.”

But for her, October is more than just Halloween. It’s also Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, a cause that became an intimate part of her life 20 years ago.

“I was in a bad car accident that was the result of a very abusive, unhealthy relationship,” Hill said.

She was being chased by her high school boyfriend when she lost control of her car and crashed into a tree. She had to deal with a lot of physical trauma following the accident, as well as a lot of emotional trauma too.

“With almost losing my leg, and then working to just keep my leg, working to learn to walk again, it’s all very,” Hill said. “It lingers a lot to remember where I came from so I never forget.”

Now she’s an advocate for Willow Domestic Violence Center, helping them spread the message.

“As a teen, I don’t remember ever being educated or warned about the dangers or even the warning signs of unhealthy relationships,” Hill said.

The CEO of Willow, Meaghan de Chateauvieux, says as loved ones, it’s important to be able to recognize those signs.

“If you have a friend who can never go anywhere with you, or says no to the things they used to say yes to, or it feels like they’re disconnected, make sure you keep reaching out to that person, see how they’re doing, and recognize that isolation can often be a sign of abuse,” Chateauvieux said.

And that dialogue is important.

“It requires each of us in the community as neighbors, friends, parents, teachers, counselors, coaches - anyone who really interacts with any other human to be aware,” Chateauvieux said.

And to Kim, that’s what October is really about.

“It just sparks a conversation,” Hill said. “People get talking about the things no one really wants to talk about, but are needed.”

She says leaving a bad situation isn’t always easy, but she got a second chance. And she intends to make the most of it.

“Just enjoy the time with my family, and still being able to ride rollercoasters and do that is something at one point I thought I’d never be able to do again,” Hill said.

Willow has a 24/7 domestic violence hotline at 585-222-SAFE.

The nonprofit will also be hosting a fundraising walk Sunday, Oct. 24.