Karen Cosgrove

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page

I never imagined I would be writing this. I never thought I would be “one of those women”. One of the women you hear about, read about, or think, “That could never happen to me.”

Until it did.

In September, my life changed in ways I’m still trying to come to terms with. The person I loved and trusted became the person I needed protecting from.

And while some wounds heal, others remain invisible.

The anxiety, the sleepless nights, the fear, the unexpected triggers, and the struggle to feel safe again.

Because domestic abuse doesn’t end when you find safety. Sometimes, that’s when the hardest part of healing begins.

During one of the darkest and most frightening times of my life, Women’s Aid became a lifeline for me. They continue to support me as I navigate a journey I never imagined I’d be on. Their kindness, understanding and reassurance have meant more than words can express.

This November, I’m taking on the Women’s Aid Plank Every Day in November Challenge to raise much-needed funds and give something back to an organisation that continues to give me so much.

But for me, this is about far more than fundraising.

Across Ireland, one in three women experience abuse from someone they once loved or trusted. Every five minutes, someone reaches out to Women’s Aid for information and support.

Behind those statistics are real women. Women who are frightened, women who are suffering in silence, women who feel trapped, and women who may not yet recognise that what they’re experiencing is abuse.

Women just like me, who never imagined it could happen to them.

I’m not sharing my story for sympathy. I’m sharing it because silence should never protect abuse.

I’m sharing it for every woman who hasn’t yet found her voice, for those rebuilding their lives, and for those who desperately need to know that they are not alone.

Women’s Aid provides vital support, guidance and advocacy to women experiencing abuse. I know firsthand that their work doesn’t just change lives. It can save them.

If you can, please support my challenge by making a donation, no matter how big or small. Every euro raised helps Women’s Aid continue providing hope, safety and support to women and children who need it most.

Simply click the Donate button to contribute securely, or share my page to help spread awareness. Every donation and every share means more than you know.

I didn’t choose what happened to me, but I can choose what I do with the pain it left behind. And if sharing my experience, taking on this challenge, or raising these funds helps even one woman find the courage to reach out, then something meaningful will have come from one of the darkest chapters of my life.

I cannot change my story, but perhaps, with your help, I can help change the ending of someone else’s. 💜

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness, support and generosity.