Some of us know what it’s like to be in a domestic violence situation…and thankfully, we got out safely. Others aren’t so blessed and end up dead attempting to leave. In fact, in 2025, experts estimate that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner.
For many, the abuse is not physical at all, but emotional, financial, or digital — and therefore often invisible to outsiders. And sadly, the numbers do not tell the whole story. To be sure, behind every statistic is a person — someone who once believed it was just an argument, a phase, or love gone wrong. Data can measure prevalence, but it cannot measure the fear of walking on eggshells, or the courage it takes to leave a dangerous situation/relationship.
To learn about all types of abuse, visit www.NoLongerAVictim.Today
Now why are we mentioning Domestic Violence on a website for Self-Storage and U-Haul? The reason is detailed in a story about how U-Haul helped someone safely escape a physically abusive marriage...
Music to Her Ears
TORONTO—When you listen to the smooth, velvety tones of blues singer Robin Banks, you can immediately tell that she is a musician like no other. The 60-year-old Canadian has enjoyed a thriving music career in North America, Europe and Jamaica for more than four decades, and has released several CDs. She has also performed with award-winning musicians across multiple genres, including guitarist and producer Duke Robillard.
Banks attributes much of her amazing success to two life-changing decisions that she made in the late 1990s—to flee a physically abusive marriage, and to move from Canada to the southwestern U.S. And, thanks to Team U-Haul, she had—in her words—an “escape mechanism” to help her take those first courageous steps into the unknown.
Building a Better Life
“In 1999, my ex-husband and I lived close to the Canadian-U.S. border … about 50 miles from Detroit,” Banks detailed. “We’d do shows in Detroit all the time, so I was familiar with the area. My marriage was also getting very bad, so I spent a lot of time online in different chat groups with people who could help and offer advice.”
In April of that year—right after a show—Banks made her escape. With little more to her name than some petty cash, a pair of speakers, a few boxes of CDs and some clothes and makeup, she rented a 10-foot U-Haul truck, drove for 13 hours straight, slept and then kept going until she reached Dallas. There, some friends from the chat groups offered her a safe place to call home as she began the process of divorcing her husband and rebuilding her life.
“To this day, every time I see a U-Haul truck, I smile and think of my dreams, goals and freedom, and how U-Haul helped me achieve them,” Banks declared. “I’m sure there are thousands of people just like me who’ve used U-Haul to build a better life for themselves, and who have amazing stories to tell. It’s just so incredible to think about!”
“Fearless with Focus”
These days, Banks has a comfortable life in Toronto, far away from the sadness and sorrows that she left behind in 1999. She’s maintained close ties with many of her Dallas friends and fellow musicians, and continues to release music that tugs at the heartstrings.
“A few years ago, I released a song called ‘I’ll Meet You There’ (Click here to listen to it) that talks about being on the road and loving someone from afar,” Banks described. “While it’s not explicitly about U-Haul, it reminds me of the freedom and new opportunities that your Company’s provided to people just like me. It’s also become an anthem of sorts to honor and memorialize loved ones who have passed on.
“My whole life, my motto has been ‘Fearless with focus,’” Banks emphasized. “I’m a single woman who has focused on music and love my whole life, and has had lots of amazing adventures along the way. U-Haul gave me the tools to be fearless all those years ago, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Visit, Subscribe & Follow Robin’s Social Media Platforms!
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation and needs help, talk to us about how renting a U-Haul could help. Call us at: (920) 878-8600
At Big Door Storage and Big Door Ready-to-Roll with U-Haul, we have LOTS of experience helping people leave dangerous & abusive situations safely.
For those who would like to know more about abuse and how to safely leave a dangerous relationship, please visit www.NoLongerAVictim.Today and subscribe to their blog.
