For the past few years I've raised money for Refuge, and this Christmas will be no different.

On Friday, 23rd November my husband and I braved the freezing cold to hold a tombola in aid of Refuge at the switch on of the Christmas lights in Kenilworth. With the help of businesses, family and friends we had more prizes than we could give away! On the night we raised £163.53 and some of the leftover prizes have been auctioned on eBay, which has raised another £57.47.

The rest of the leftover tombola prizes will be donated to a local refuge.

The money we are raising will be helping Refuge to continue to provide support, advice and emergency accomodation for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

Some hard-hitting facts;

• One woman in four experiences domestic violence at some point in her life.
• Two women are killed each week by a current or former partner.
• Domestic violence accounts for almost a quarter of all violent crime.
• In 90% of domestic violence incidents children are in the same or next room.
• On average a woman will be assaulted by her partner or ex-partner 35 times before reporting it to the police.