Surrey women takes on 63-mile challenge in memory of sister and niece
Jodie Finch lost her sister and niece to domestic abuse 6 years ago
A woman from Surrey is marking Domestic Abuse Awareness month by walking 63 miles in remembrance of her sister, Laura, and niece, Ella, throughout October
Jodie Finch is the clinical lead at a sexual abuse support service and lost her niece and daughter to domestic abuse in 2019.
Jodie is doing the walk to raise money for the charity Refuge, she told us about why this is such a worthy cause for her.
"It's personally helped some friends of mine, this is an organisation, a charity where if you are in need and if there is danger or if you feel like there that you're in a situation and you don't know what to do and you would just like some advice.
They are incredible at being able to help you and support you safely."
"I'm stepping for the people that have lost their lives"
Jodie explained to us why the walk is so important.
"With this challenge, it's about every step I take. I'm stepping for the people that have lost their lives. I'm stepping for the people that are in situations, the people that have been able to leave, that still carried scars, have been in abusive relationships
And also in the hope to raise education and for us to be able to go out and raise that awareness."
October is International Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, and sees communities around the world unite to bring attention to the devastating impact of domestic abuse and to support survivors.
Jodie says that the month provides a great opportunity to bring a spotlight onto the issue.
"I think every day we should be raising awareness. However, when we have an opportunity to highlight over the month.
This is an incredible opportunity to be able to raise awareness and very importantly, being able to signpost people safely so that they can have the the right help and support they need."
"Things aren't getting any better"
Jodie adds that the problem isn't getting any better, which it makes all the more important to talk about.
"I mean statistically, things aren't getting any better. In fact, what we need to look at is actually what are the what are the ways that we can help, what are the things that are working, what isn't working and actually."
Jodie says that she believes it's a problem that can be solved through education.
"This needs to be something that's done right back in schools. So it's a case that it just becomes our normal education. Everyone, I do believe, needs to be trauma informed.
Everywhere that we go that we know that there's an opportunity to talk if we need to. It just needs to be like a normalized conversation."