Charlotte’s Marathon For A Safe Night

Hi! My name is Charlotte, and I recently migrated to Auckland, NZ from the UK.

I’m running the Auckland marathon to raise funds for women’s refuge NZ. They’re a wonderful organisation that helps women and children living in New Zealand escape domestic abuse. Just $20 ‘a safe night’ can offer someone a safe place to stay, breathing space and some guidance on what to do next.

Not long ago, I was one of these women. My story isn’t unique. Daughters, mothers, sisters, friends, colleagues, we all know someone. I was granted a safe place to stay when I had nowhere else to go, I was given support, counsel, and safety. I was treated with dignity and respect by not only this organisation but the public services, police force and many kind people whom I now regard as my friends. These people collectively quite literally saved my life.

I wanted to give this experience a purpose. To give you and I some hope that there’s still good out there. If you’ve ever heard yourself say the words ‘they’ve never hit me, but..’, I am running for you.

Let’s go, one foot in front of the other.