Underfunded Rape Centre & Female Street Teams

Hello, my name is Charlie and I’d be so grateful if you could please read, reshare and if possible donate to raise awareness. In 2023, I (along with friends) will be raising money for Rape Crisis TN and Women’s Street Watch by completing:

• the Great North Run

• the National 3 Peaks Challenge

• jumping out of a plane at 15,000ft.

In 2022, I was spiked and raped. I couldn’t initially say that word, even spelling it out made me feel sick. Now, I still find myself pausing before I say it, as it reminds me of what happened but by raising awareness and funds, I want to alter my perception towards the attack and help other victims who don’t have the community I do around them. 

My everyday existence was shattered. I couldn’t gym, shop, eat, be in public places, drink alcohol, sleep… I was fortunate to have a circle of people to prop me up when I felt broken, but even then I was numb. Everything from music to TV, cars beeping their horns to a stranger saying hi overwhelmed me and admittedly, I eventually had a breakdown on my friends birthday in April, from exhaustion/hurt and was diagnosed with PTSD.

For those who are just nosy, I’m not discussing the details of what I endured, the extensive nature of my injuries or the police investigation; so you can keep scrolling, but I will share these images of some of the injuries to show that it can happen to anyone. I am that ‘girl next door’, that ‘girl you might have seen in town’, that ‘girl who is friends with so and so’…. I’m not that same girl anymore, but everyday is a day closer to feeling like ‘me’ again.

I’d never had a panic attack in my life, but they occurred daily and now not as frequently (thank f*ck). They paralyse you from being able to show skin, get out of bed and even doing simple tasks like getting ready; I became a shell of myself. Finally, months later, I didn’t feel utterly repulsive, worthless or like used goods.

The thought of chatting to a therapist has never overly-appealed to me but without that safe space, along with Riot Boxing, being able to cuddle dogs (pet owners in my life have previously been the real gifts that keep on giving) and having incredible support, then I recognise I’d be a (hot) mess… for those that don’t know me well, I’m the queen of deflection and making inappropriate jokes so roll with it when I say hot mess please.

THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP … many victims of rape don’t have a support network around them and rely on charities such as RCTN to help them readjust and recognise their self worth once more.

I have M.E (Myalgic encephalomyelitis), a neurological condition that gives me fatigue, migraines and tremors (cute), so these challenges aren’t going to be easy when I’m far from being an athlete. 

Please repost and donate what you can to help victims. Posting this exposes me in a way I dislike as I WON’T be defined by this attack, but if it highlights the need to focus on empowering women then I’ll cope. Even if we’ve not spoken in a while or you’re a friend of a friend please REPOST this GFM link to your stories/grid/page to spread awareness, start conversations and help me raise as much as possible please… lads, pls don’t be shy in partaking in the repost