Katie Beers Heads To Hockey Game To Help the Missing

Katie Beers, a Long Island native who released a book two months ago detailing her infamous kidnapping, as well as the sexual abuse she endured, is headed to a New York Islanders game to raise awareness of children in similar situations.

Beers, who lived in Springs since she was rescued at the age of 10, will join John Walsh, the co-founder of the National Center for Missing &Exploited Children and host of "America’s Most Wanted," on Thursday for the fundraising effort, as the Islanders take on the New York Rangers. "Buried Memories: Katie Beers' Story," which Beers wrote with CBS reporter Carolyn Gusoff, was released in January.

An estimated 800,000 children are reported missing each year, according to figures from the NCMEC.

A teenage girl was reported missing from the East End just last week. It's been one week since Ashley Murray was reported missing. Her whereabouts remain unknown as of Tuesday, and a police investigation is underway.

Murray's photograph is included on National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website. Established in 1984, it serves as the nation's clearinghouse for missing children by a designation of Congress.

Beers even re-posted a photograph of Ashley on her public Facebook page to help raise awareness. "Absolutely devastating! Please help spread the word about this missing teenager, and send prayers that she's found safely!," she wrote on Feb. 28.

It's been 20 years since Beers was abducted and held captive in a Bay Shore house. "America’s Most Wanted" covered Beers’ disappearance until she was found in early January 1993, after 17 days of captivity in an underground bunker. The police investigation also revealed she had suffered rape an sexual abuse at the hands of a family friend since she was 2 years old.

Now a 30-year-old married mother-of-two, she lives in central Pennsylvania.

"With the efforts of the NCMEC and the New York Islanders, they are ensuring that stories like mine will become less frequent," Beers said in a statement about the upcoming event. "I am honored to participate in this event and to have become a motivational speaker, helping bring awareness nationwide to a cause that will save lives and help protect children from the terrible situation I was once in.”

According to a statement from the team, this is the second season the Islanders are showing their support for NCMEC. For each ticket sold, $2 will go directly to NCMEC. Charles Wang, the owner of the Islanders, has pledged to match the total and other fundraising efforts throughout the night.

Beers and Walsh will drop the ceremonialpuck before the start of the game, and various activities will be held throughout the night to raise funds. Money raised from the Chuck-A-Puck intermission contest and 50/50 raffle will also be donated to the organization.

Fans can also make donations by visiting the concourse level during the game, as well as making $10 donations by texting SAFEKIDS to 20222 at anytime.