-Hello, My name is Sarah and this is my way of sharing a big part of my life with the world and asking for help. I promise that this is completely genuine and I have absolutely no ulterior motive for sharing this. What you will continue to read is simply my life story and desperate desire to help others but first I need a little help of my own.
If I am honest I’m a little nervous to be writing this and have taken a long time to get the confidence to take this step but I have learnt through my life that if I had been brave enough to ask for help when it was needed, life would have got a lot better alot sooner!
I am 32 years old and I live with my husband and two beautiful children, a headstrong but beautiful three year old girl and a 'keep me on the edge' total extremist one year old boy, who, of course, is also beautiful. I am happy with my family and I love them with all my heart. My thirst for life comes from seeing their faces light up at the most simplest things, hearing their excited voices whenever they come across something new in life, things are so simple to them, life through their eyes is so innocent and pure and its such a fantastic way to live.
Unfortunately for me, life has not always been like this. For 15 years I lived next door to,if not actually, in hell! I must stress that I do not use these words lightly. I have lived on the edge of my existence and came close to not even caring what the next step may be. If I’m honest maybe I even hoped it would happen.
I lived as a victim of Domestic Violence and although I have left that house, left the man who held me a prisoner in my own life and I have started again from nothing, I hold the invisible emotional scars that will never, ever go away. Over time I have learnt to accept this and I feel because of this I am truly able to help others. People who are in the same situation, people who feel that life is not an option for them and the people who have taken that step and grabbed hold of the little hope that still lives deep inside - I know I can help them!
The small bit of hope that kept me from 'giving up' through the hardest times of my life saw me through to the moment I actually left. The moment my life 'as I knew it' fell apart and I entered a world I had forgotten existed - the real world.
I was able, for the first time in my life, to make decisions, I was able to choose what I would like to do and when I would like to do it and once again I fell apart. I could not make sense of what had happened to me during all those years, I did not know who I was or who I was meant to be anymore. I couldn’t deal with the stigma I felt I was attracting, I couldn’t deal with the shame I felt or the secrets that I felt I had to keep to myself as I was sure no one would understand.
Worst of all, I couldn’t deal with the amount of choices I had, I had no idea what to do with my new freedom. Life was no longer hell but it was incredibly hard and new. I can help others in these same situations as I have first hand experience of coming through the other side and seeing life for what it is - a life to be lived. I now express myself in ways I never thought possible, I have no shame or stigma for I know it was not me that did this, it was not my fault, I did not ask for this nor did I deserve it. I was simply a pawn in someone’s else’s game.
However, I am proud to say that I have learned to love, be loved and love myself. I have the strength, understanding and belief in myself and others to make this happen. I know that resources are very low in this area and the help these woman need to regain control over their life is long overdue. This is why I am in the process of starting a charity to open a women’s refuge to give these vulnerable women and their children the safe haven they so desperately need.
Unfortunately, the only thing that stands in the way of others receiving my help and guidance is the debt that has consumed my life during and since leaving my old life behind. As everyone will be aware within their own life, small steps cost money. Small changes, for the better, leave you short in other areas and the list goes on. I left my own experience with a lot of debt, debt I didn’t bring on myself, but at the time this was a small price to pay for moments of 'peace'. However, since joining the humane side of the world, having my children and now daring to act on my aspirations, goals and my dream of opening a women’s refuge I now know that my old life is still holding me back. The debt that left with me and the debt to start again is years away from being paid off which in turn puts the refuge, the hope and lifeline of so many desperate women, so far away!
I desperately need a little help from so many people. A little kindness that will go so far in the lives of so many. I have projection plans, business plans, life plans and plans of plans. I can prove this will work to anyone who would like to be a part of this amazing mission. All I need is what ever you feel you can offer as a little really will go a long way. I understand that you may read alot of requests for help but if you would please just give a little time to consider the benefits of such an accomplishment you will hopefully see how truly amazing this will be for all the women and their families who need it.
I was lucky that I had my family to support me, others are not so lucky.
Please offer to help me help them.
You can contact me directly by email at helpmecleardebt@yahoo.com and I will answer any questions or talk through anything you may want to know about me or my plans.
You can make donations through Paypal. I am in the process of setting this up to appear on this page but until then, please contact me via email and I will provide details.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this, I am truly grateful for that and hope you can give a donation of any size, even 1p can make a difference.
Thank - you.