OUSA Charity Fight: The Notorious C.B.G.

My name is Caitlin Barlow-Groome and I am competing in the OUSA Charity Fight for The Sophie Elliot Foundation. Sophie Elliot was only 22 when she was brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2008 after only dating for 5 months. Relationship abuse can be hard to spot early signs of as these can begin as what seems like small and harmless comments from a loved one, before it turns into something much more serious.

The Sophie Elliot Foundation works with young adults to teach them how to understand and identify abuse in relationships. As Sophie was a fellow University of Otago student, her mother Lesley has worked with the Otago Law School telling her story in lectures. She is now working with OUSA to have a workshop around relationship abuse on campus.

1 in 3 women in New Zealand suffer physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. I believe it is important for young people to understand what a healthy relationship is and know what to do when it doesn’t go to plan. The more people who can be educated about relationship abuse, the more likely it is someone will be saved before it’s too late.

More on The Sophie Elliot Foundation: http://www.sophieelliottfoundation.co.nz/

Fighter Bio:

As the President of OUSA for 2018, I thought it was only right to get involved in the Charity Fight. I recently graduated with a BCom in Finance and Economics but somehow I find myself in student politics. My job involves understanding what the student body wants and trying my best to make that happen.

I was lucky enough to be on Student Allowance all through uni, but to me it felt unfair. Since I didn't have to work to live, I decided that I would give all my time back to the community. I have volunteered organising two fully student led Relay for Life's where we raised over $100,000 for Cancer Society last year, have been out on the street collecting money for multiple charities and helped coach sporting teams.