On April 7 2024, I will be running the Brighton Marathon in support of CARA.

Based in Colchester, CARA is a wonderful charity that provides crucial support to victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse. CARA works with victims and survivors of all genders and ages – from children as young as 3 up to adults in their 80’s and 90’s. This cause is particularly important to me because, for the past 8 years, my mum has worked as the charity’s CEO - I know firsthand how hard the entire CARA team works.

CARA provides a range of practical, emotional and therapeutic support for victims and survivors. This support takes the form of counselling, play therapy, advocacy and social groups. For survivors who choose to report to the police, CARA is there to guide them through the criminal justice process and ensure that their voices are heard.

The demand for organisations like CARA has increased rapidly: the number of people seeking support from the charity has quadrupled since 2015, and CARA currently receives around 2000 new referrals each year.

Donations and support from the public can have a significant impact, helping CARA to meet this demand. Even a small donation can make a huge difference: a gift of £5 could enable CARA to send a specialist self-care package to five survivors of sexual violence, whereas £30 could fund a one-to-one therapy session.

Please give whatever you can - thank you in advance for your kind support!