Sexual abuse survivor fundraises for charity which helped her

A Co Antrim social worker and survivor of sexual abuse has run 100 kilometres in 30 days to raise much needed funds for NSPCC Northern Ireland.
By Helen McGurk
Published 24th Jun 2020, 13:32 BST
Updated 24th Jun 2020, 15:00 BST
Michelle DuffyMichelle Duffy
Michelle Duffy

Michelle Duffy, 41, from Newtownabbey, a children’s service practitioner in NSPCC’s Craigavon Service Centre, said she wanted to remind people the centre is still there for children even during the lockdown.

The facility helps children and young people recover from the traumatic effects of sexual abuse and to rebuild their lives. It also helps them overcome the experiences and feelings that have led to them displaying harmful sexual behaviour towards others.

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Michelle had her own personal reasons for wanting to raise funds for the charity.

“As a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I realise that the lockdown is a particularly difficult time because it can trigger traumas from the past such as the feelings of powerlessness, fear of threat to life and being “held captive” by the virus through isolation and reduced connection to other people.

‘‘As a child I benefited from support from the NSPCC at a time when no one else believed in me and this has given me a real passion for the work I do now. It is so important that children who have been affected by child sexual abuse get all the help and support they need to help them recover.’’

• To support Michelle’s fundraising go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Michelle-Duffy10?

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Related topics:NewtownabbeyNSPCC