"Running, for me is an expression of freedom. The empowering ability to fulfil this passion and use my body in this way, for myself, is a liberty that unfortionately many people around the world do not have. I hope that in whatever I do I can put my energy towards something worthwhile, that will allow more people to access freedom in whichever form that takes. As an artist and designer the power of rehabilitation through the creative arts is extremely pertinent to me. So when I came across the amazing work Talitha is doing for woman around the world and in Jersey I was very excited to be able to support the charity in any way I could."- Maia de Bourcier

What will the money raised be used for?

80% of children in Bolivia are physically or emotionally abused, damaging their self-confidence and sense of identity. Talitha Jersey are sending a team of three in October to deliver therapeutic creative arts workshops for a group of vulnerable and neglected young girls, pilot sessions with a group of women who are in the process of leaving or who have recently left the sex-trade, and offer a creative arts retreat for counsellors and care workers in a number of organisations in El Alto and La Paz who work with traumatised and abused young women and girls.

Maia is helping Talitha Jersey to raise funds for this two week programme in Bolivia as well as much needed support for their future programmes for vulnerable groups in Jersey. They have lead two six week programmes over the last year for women affected by Domestic Violence and referred by the Jersey Women's Refuge. They would like to offer more in the Winter and Spring.

The Manager of the Refuge said it was: "an incredible experience...Talitha’s workshops have offered so much to our clients, including a place where they were warmly welcomed, a space to express themselves freely, an opportunity for them to discover what wonderful beings they are, as well as a chance to create new friendships."