A SEXUAL abuse survivor spoke of her joy after raising thousands of pounds for the organisation that supported her through "the most difficult" time of her life.
The Leader reported earlier this year how Venus-Astrid Lamey, of Flintshire, announced her plans to undertake every Parkrun in north Wales in a different costume, as well as taking on the Chester Half Marathon, climbing Ben Nevis and then completing the Chester Full Marathon, all in aid of RASASC (Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre) North Wales.
Ms Lamey, 24, has now completed that mammoth task - and has so far raised more than £3,000.
Speaking to the Leader after completing the Chester Full Marathon - in which she achieved a time of 3:37:17 - she said: "It was very good, some weeks were challenging.
"One week, I had 64 strangers show up in costume to support me, which was really cool.
"The Chester Marathon was better than I thought it'd be. A marathon is not easy, but after everything I have been through, it felt like nothing in comparison.
"I had people giving me words of hope on ribbons which I wore to cross the finish line."
Looking back over the whole fundraising challenge, she said: "I don't quite know how to explain how it makes me feel.
"When I first started it, I was nervous about how people would respond.
"But to get the backing of people and this outcome after feeling quite alone for a while is just amazing.
"I had the support of one of the advocates from RASASC at the Chester Marathon, who came to see me cross the finish line and cheer me on."
She plans to keep her fundraising page open for a short time in order to enable anyone else who wishes to donate to do so.
Ms Lamey waived her right to automatic anonymity earlier in the year in order to speak out about her abuser - 58-year-old Horsham man Keith Clifton, who was jailed for a string of rapes and sexual abuse committed against her over several years.
Following a two-week trial at Hove Trial Centre concluding on Friday, January 23, Clifton was convicted of five counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault by penetration and five counts of sexual assault on a child - which resulted in him receiving a 22 year sentence and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
She explained how RASASC North Wales had been "key" in supporting her throughout the process.
"[Trauma] doesn’t simply disappear," she said.
"I know it will always be part of my story. I’m still navigating through it.
"But I now know what it feels like to live rather than simply survive.
"RASASC North Wales provided me with an ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) who never once made me doubt that she believed me.
"She held onto hope for me when I couldn’t hold onto it for myself.
"I will carry that hope with me now, for anyone who needs it, until they are able to find it within themselves.
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"Thank you to every single person at RASASC, my friends, the amazing people who have been brave enough to share their story with me, my run clubs, the North Wales parkrun crew and the wider running community.
"Every message, donation, cheer, hug and bit of encouragement has meant more than you’ll ever know."
Ms Lamey encouraged any potential sexual offence victims to reach out for help, adding: "It is really scary, but it's the bravest thing anyone can do."
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