In 2015, 68 people were killed in Washington state as a result of domestic violence, according to statistics from the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Five of those deaths occurred in King County.

In Covington on Saturday, the seventh annual Purple Light Nights kicks off domestic violence awareness month.

Covington’s Domestic Violence Task Force sponsors this yearly event. The Purple Light Nights campaign first started in Covington and is now held nationally in 32 states as well as in Canada and Guam, Victoria Throm said, Personnel and Senior Human Services Planner for the city.

“It continues to grow each year,” she said.

Throm along with Curt Lindsley founded the task force in June 2004.

Festivities for this year’s event begins at 6 p.m. with a 5K walk sponsored by the Covington Rotary.

The walk starts at Pier 1 Imports and travels north on 168th passing Costco. The route continues down Covington Way to Wax Road and down 172nd to the service road behind Safeway, Throm said.

There are no road closures this year for the 5K, Throm added.

Following the walk is a barbecue beginning at 7 p.m. Drinks, chips and cookies are provided by the Covington Kiwanis Club. Throm added volunteers from the Cornerstone Church provide chefs to cook hot dogs.

The barbecue is free to the public.

And to end the evening, at 7:30 p.m. the lighting ceremony begins. A community tree in the roundabout near Pier 1 is lit and stays on for the entire month of October.

Throm said there are nearly 2,000 lights on the community tree. The Parks and Recreation Department provides the lights and Public Works string them.

Surrounding City Hall, more than 30 trees have lights strung in them and also stay lit throughout the month. Businesses, families or clubs sponsor these trees by paying $100. A recognition sign is posted underneath each tree to show who has sponsored it.

The main difference, Throm said, from past year’s is that registration is now available online. To participate in the 5K, it costs $12 per person and $27 per family. All proceeds go to the task force.

Visit www.crowdrise.com/TakeaStepAgainstDV5k to register. The first 100 receive a T-shirt.

Throm said, “the most spirited group or team” will be awarded $100 and individual best costume receives $50. Prizes will be awarded around 7:15 p.m.

Pets are also welcome to join in the walk and festivities but must remain on a leash.

There are four goals, Throm said, she hopes the public takes away from Saturday’s event.

First, she wants to bring awareness of domestic violence issues to the community.

Throm also wants the community to “walk in honor of those who have lost their lives and walk to support victims,” she said. There is a memory wall where walkers can write who they are walking for.

A resource booth will also be available throughout the event to provide brochures and advocates to help anyone asking for help.

And finally, Throm hopes this event can raise money for the task force in order to continue providing services to victims and their families. According to the registration website, the goal is to raise $5,000.

Throughout the month of October, Throm said they encourage all residents to shine a purple light on their front porch, “to show their support to survivors and send the message that ‘Domestic Violence Has No Place in Our Community!'”

Lights will be available for purchase during the event and at Covington City Hall, she said. Single bulbs cost $2.50 or two lightbulbs for $5.