Hundreds of women took to the streets of Washington Heights in wedding dresses Sunday to march against domestic violence.

The 10th annual Brides March Against Domestic Violence was started to remember Gladys Ricart. She was murdered by a former abusive boyfriend on the day she was to marry her fiancé.

In addition to remembering Ricart and other victims of domestic violence, the march raises awareness of the once-hidden issue.

For participant Crusita Martinez, the scars from abuse across her face do not compare to the pain she feels on the inside. She says her ex-boyfriend abused and threatened her for years – and finally threw acid at her when she worked up the courage to leave.

“He say, ‘if you don't come back, if you don't love me, you don't love anyone,’ and he threw acid in my face,” she recalled.

One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

"It's bringing people together to denounce this violence, something that at one time was between a husband and a wife and to be kept behind closed doors,” said march organizer Grace Perez.

Statistics show most victims never come forward. According to the mayor’s office, in more than half the cases, the New York City Police Department has no prior contact with the victims. And nearly 90 percent had no current order of protection.

Walkers hoped walking seven miles from Fort Washington Heights Presbyterian Church to Julia de Burgos Cultural Center in East Harlem in their white dresses will change that.

"The wedding dress symbolized love, happiness, safety. When domestic violence touches a woman, she feels like what the dress ends up looking after walking seven miles,” said a participant.

Martinez says she does not want anyone else to end up in her situation, with a son afraid of his own mother.

"He say I'm monster,” Martinez said, holding back tears. “When I try to speak, I say, ‘it’s your mom.’ He says, ‘no, you not my mom, you monster, I don't want to see you.’"

Domestic violence-related deaths are down 20 percent in the past eight years in New York City. Martinez hopes walks like this help give women the courage to keep coming forward – so the numbers keep dropping.

"Before I felt so bad because my life changed, but now I feel better because I can help other women,” she said.