So, another fundraising page you say? Another sop story you moan? This may be true but everyone has their own story to tell. 

I was brought up unfortunately within a broken home, but lets face it, that's not uncommon nowadays. My upbringing was abusive, mentally and emotionally. I finally plucked the courage to leave at 15 and spent many years trying to overcome my past. It took a mental breakdown and an almost successful suicide attempt in Spain to start to heal. 

15 years after leaving the abusive household, I have dealt with my demons and created my own family which is full of love and support. I have reconnected with blood relatives and can honestly say, I am the happiest I have ever experienced. However, not everyone has this happy outcome. 

This is why myself and my wonderful family, Emma, Clair and Tom, are raising funds for a charity close to my heart, The Dash Charity. 

Here is some information for you from The Dash Charity;

DASH stands for Domestic Abuse Stops Here.

We support anyone across East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire who is  suffering from any kind of abuse from partners, ex partners or family members.

 Did you know that:

 -          2 women every week die in the UK at the hands of a partner or ex

-          750,000 children experience domestic abuse each year

 Dash offers confidential, professional advice and practical help at any stage of abuse - whether people are at the point of crisis, experiencing ongoing abuse or needing  help to rebuild their life afterwards.

It takes a lot of courage to pick up the phone and call our helpline, but we are there to offer  reassurance and advice when people need it most. We provide sanctuary for women and children who need a safe house as a means of escape. We help clients access safety measures as well as a range of support and help around issues such as  child contact, court, homelessness and complex issues such as Forced Marriage, Honour Based Abuse and Stalking. We work with partner agencies and advocate on behalf of victims to ensure their rights are protected and their voice is heard.

DASH is working closely with schools to break the cycle of abuse and promote healthy beliefs and attitudes amongst children. We also provide training and awareness workshops to local businesses and community groups to raise awareness and improve the response to disclosures of abuse.

Our dedicated, caring team specialise in supporting victims and enable them to become survivors. We are a small charity passionate about making a difference to those who desperately need our help, but we can’t do it without you!

Only approx. 15% of our work is funded and each year we need to raise a whopping £500,000 just to sustain our current services. Most of this is funded through grants and Trusts, but community fundraising allows us to spend the money where it is needed most. Please help us by donating – every £ raised goes directly to supporting families within our local community. We hope you  never need to call us, but please help us be there for those that do.

You may ask how we are doing it? 

We are walking 106km or 65.8 miles, around the Isle of Wight within 33 hours. This is going to be a massive challenge, with lots of training and tears.... stay tuned for updates! 

Thank you :)