This past weekend (June 26-June 28) in Atlanta, celebrities came out for the first ever Fairways & Highways Celebrity Golf And Bike Weekend to raise awareness of domestic abuse.

For quite some time domestic abuse has plagued women from across the globe. Chrisette Michele, one of the hosts of Fairways & Highways, revealed that she too has dealt with domestic violence and it has become a cause that is “dear” to her heart.

“Obviously I’ve been through a case of violence similar to domestic violence,” Chrisette Michele explained to BET. “It’s important for me to be able to talk and speak out about it because it’s something that’s dear to my heart. The album Epiphany is a women’s empowerment album in so many ways. It’s about getting out of relationships that simply aren’t right for you, especially if it’s a violent one. So I need people to be more aware of domestic violence, one in four women suffer it in a lifetime but most women are afraid to talk about it.”

Jacque Reid, another host of Fairways & Highways and former host of BET Nightly News, also shared her thoughts on domestic abuse.

“Women across this country are being put in hospitals, being killed by domestic violence everyday,” Jacque Reid told BET.com. “And so it’s something that definitely needs to be on our minds. We need to be better educated about it. Recognizing friends and loved ones who are dealing with this and trying to figure out ways to help them stop the violence.”

The debut of Fairways & Highways also brought out actress Lisa Raye, former Atlanta Falcons player Terance Mathis, Chef G. Garvin, and more to the weekend engagements.

Festivities for the Fairways & Highways weekend long event included the Terance Mathis Celebrity Golf Outing, the “Summer Tour De Luxe” party, and the White Glove Charity Bike Ride.

As far as Fairways & Highways becoming an annual event in the future both Chrisette Michele and Jacque Reid hope so.

“Yea, I hope so. Right here in Atlanta, the best city for it…They always talk about how New York is the black Mecca, but Atlanta really is,” said Reid. “It is such a progressive city in a small town kinda way.”

To find out more information on Fairways & Highways visit www.fairwaysandhighways.com.