In June next year I will be taking part in The Great North Swim 5km distance to raise funds for RASA (rape and sexual abuse) Merseyside.

This charity saved my life. I came to RASA suffering from PTSD, depression, self harm and night terrors. I left empowered to tell my story to those I love most and remove my abuser from my life.

The abuse I suffered as a child at the hands of my maternal grandfather broke and remade me but it was RASA Merseyside that saved me. I told my story in a safe, non-judgemental space to Laura and Amelia and over the course of two stints of therapy I slowly unpacked every dark memory, every flashback and slowly built a home for it where I had control and power. I now visit this place when I choose to and choice is something I didn’t have.

It will never go away, it will never be ok and I don’t doubt it has changed me for the better but it took time to find this clarity.

RASA support hundreds of adults and children each year. They save lives, empower survivors and support those involved in the legal system via independent sexual violence advisors.

Their service is vital.

You will all know someone sadly with a story like mine, it might be a sexual assault, a rape, childhood abuse. You might just not know it yet.

If you can donate then I will be eternally grateful, if you can’t just know that listening to survivors without judgement is all I ask. Empower those around you, stand strong in the face of adversity and allow them take back control.

Thank you so much for reading.

Love Chloe x