One woman in four will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime and two women are killed each week in England and Wales by a current or former partner. Refuge supports around 6,000 women & children on any given day, experiencing domestic and sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, stalking, trafficking, prostitution & so-called ‘honour’ based violence.By kindly sponsoring me today you are helping to save and change the lives of thousands of women and children escaping domestic violence.

We are walking in memory of Grandma Gatewood.  Emma Rowena Gatewood was a survivor of domestic violence and was the first woman to walk the Appalachian trail (over 2000 miles) when she was 67 year old.  She went on to walk it two more times and became the first person ever to walk it three times. She walked in plimsoles, carrying a sack and had a shower curtain for shelter in case it rained.  She is considered to be one of the founders of ultralight hiking.  What an astonishing woman!