A Frome resident is inviting the community to join in with her ‘mile a day’ runs to raise awareness of women’s safety, particularly during the darker evenings.
Charity fundraiser Rachel Clark is calling for residents to join her on one-mile runs until the end of the year. At each run, Rachel, Frome’s Neighbourhood Inspector, will also be handing out personal safety alarms to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.
She said, “When the clocks go back and it is dark, many women feel they have to change their habits, particularly if they are out walking or running. They don’t go running at night as much as they would in the summer months or early autumn.
“A couple of people I know have said they just don’t run in the winter because they don’t want to go out on their own, and people have to train indoors.
“I want men to know how we feel. When I have spoken to some, they say, ‘Oh, I didn’t realise you feel that bad.’ But if you are running towards a man, some women do feel really uncomfortable and worry about what might happen to them.
“We are also asking men to be upstanders and recognise that women do feel intimidated. They have to change their routes, turn their music down. Some might run with a key in their hand for personal defence, and unfortunately, it is real.
“Violence against women and girls is disproportionately high, and we do have to change our habits. It is wrong that we have to do that because we feel intimidated.”
For the past two years, Rachel has completed a ‘mile a day’ challenge for Frome cancer counselling charity We Hear You, raising £35,000. Over the next eight weeks, she is also accepting cash donations for WHY.
The safety alarms are funded by the Avon and Somerset police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
