MARQUETTE -- April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month, and pinwheels have been planted to spread awareness.

It's all a part of the national Pinwheels for Prevention campaign.  The pinwheels were planted by children at the Marquette YMCA with the help of the Marquette and Alger County Child Abuse and Neglect Council.  Around one hundred pinwheels were planted.

This is done every year during April at the YMCA.  The pinwheels were provided by the Children's Trust Fund of Michigan, and their presence is an effort to raise awareness for child abuse prevention.

"In 2010, in Marquette County alone, there was over 850 suspected cases of child abuse and neglect which is up from about 700 in 2006," said CAN Council Chair, Jayne Letts.

Everyone that passes by is encouraged to take a pinwheel for themselves.