LOCAL HERO
Domestic violence activist Natasha Saunders is walking the Shropshire Hills to prep for a fundraising trek to the Himalayas
This brave domestic violence campaigner takes to the hills for a fundraising trek
Six years ago, I fled to a domestic violence refuge with my two eldest kids. In my hands were two carrier bags that contained all I owned in the world. It was just after Christmas, and I remember wondering whether I would live to see another. Thankfully, so much in my life has changed.
At the worst times, I always said to myself, if I come through this, one day I will become an activist. That’s why I now volunteer as a public speaker for the charity Refuge. I’ve also joined local organisations who can help.
The day I picked up the phone and called the Refuge helpline set change in motion for me – effectively, the lady I spoke to saved my life. For this reason, I was recently inspired to take on a challenge unlike anything I have ever done before – a sponsored trek in the foothills of the Himalayas celebrating 50 years since Refuge first opened its doors. Alongside 23 fellow fundraisers, I will undertake a 10-day India tour in October
2021, starting in Mcleod Ganj and finishing in Dharamsala, climbing up to 2985m altitude. We will stop in villages and visit women’s charities; it’s about getting to know people, not simply travelling through.
I am now out training with walks every day. As the new year approaches, I intend to make a big push. We will be hiking for six to eight hours a day in India. Temperatures won’t be too hot in the day time, as it will be moving into winter, but at night it may drop below freezing and snow can fall.
But I am so excited about this symbolic journey – I have climbed figurative mountains, now I will climb real ones. I want to show others that there is life after domestic violence. The race is now on to build sponsorship – I’ve asked family and friends to sponsor me in place of giving Christmas presents. No matter how small, I know the difference it can make. You are giving women the gift of freedom. Another fantastic source of support has been Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe, whom I met while living in Nottingham after leaving the refuge. She spoke about my case in parliament, and even encouraged me to go into politics. I began to take my first steps in that direction with my work for Refuge’s campaign called The
Naked Threat, lobbying for changes in legislation to protect women from threats to share intimate images. I now dream of building a parliamentary career, and thanks to the help of 50:50 Parliament, an organisation that seeks to bring gender equality to government, it may one day become a reality. There has been significant spikes in calls to Refuge’s helpline during lockdown. We are now in a situation where two women every week are being killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales. With every step I take in India, no matter how much it challenges my physical limits, I will keep going, because I know the importance of my cause. Learn more about Natasha’s trek at justgiving.com/fundraising/Natashaforrefuge