Cindy & Jess will be running the Richmond Park 10k on 24 February to raise money for The Cottman Foundation in partnership with the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV).

- 1 incident of domestic violence is reported to the police every minute

- 2 women a week are killed by their current or former partner

- 54% of rapes are committed by a woman's current or former partner

- 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence in their lifetime

- domestic violence is the single most quoted reason for women becoming homeless

The NCDV provides an emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence. However, it receives no funding from the government and there is a funding gap in that many women who do not qualify for legal aid, simply do not have the funds to serve the injunctions on the perpetrators once they have been through the court process. If the injunction is not served, it has no legal effect and the victim benefits from no protection at all. Many women choose to drop out of the process once they cannot find the funds and return to a life of violence and suffering.

The Cottman Foundation is committed to doing what it can to plug that gap and has committed to fund women who would otherwise not have benefited from any legal protection. The funds raised towards this project will make a direct and real impact on the lives, and safety, of these women and often their children too.

To find out about other ways you can support, visit www.thecottmanfoundation.org