Hey everyone!

I've (nervously and excitedly) decided to take on the challenge of running the Cambridge Half Marathon to raise money for the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre. This is a cause that matters a lot to me and people close to me, and I would be so grateful for any support you're able to give, both in spirit and in £££ ;)

Like for so many people, I am finding it to be a messy, lengthy and ongoing challenge learning to process, heal and grow through my experiences of sexual assault - something I have done quietly and in shame for a long time. By raising money for this cause and completing this run, I am challenging myself to face the music and to run alongside my feelings and memories, not away from them; I want to step out of shame and live stronger and lighter with each (wheezy!) breath.

I wish that as a child and young adult, I had been educated with the language and the understanding to name and communicate my suffering, and I wish those around me had been given the tools to make sense of it and help me through. The Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre offers exactly this voice and this listening ear to hundreds of survivors of sexual violence. Right now, the charity is working even harder to provide this vital care as support needs have intensified in the UK due to the cost of living crisis, the collapse of the Criminal Justice System and severely reduced access to statutory mental health services.

Rape, to me, felt like a death, and it has been my effort since to rebuild a sense of self. I don’t want any person to ever have to do that alone. CRCC’s life-saving and life-changing services are essential to ensuring this is not the case.

All donations, no matter how small, to support this cause, will make a huge difference to the centre, and will help give hope and agency back to all of us who are returning to ourselves. It is my hope that by voicing this issue and promoting CRCC's services, we can continue to cultivate a culture that does not silence, or shame, or blame victims, but encourages and facilitates support for every person moving through their pain. I hope that through openness, reflection and brave discussion, we can continue to tackle this problem and make the world a safer place for everyone.

So, on March 8th 2026, International Woman’s Day, the woman I am today will be running hand in hand with the young girl I also still am today - (thankfully now with longer legs!) And so from both of us, we thank you so much for being a part of this conversation.

For all of you who resonate, I am running with you too.

See you at the finish line...

love

Nell xx :)