Tamela’s Walk To Help Victims Of Sexual Assault
Tamela’s Walk To Help Victims Of Sexual Assault
Despite living in constant pain from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, Tamela Burckhardt is determined to help other survivors of sexual assault by completing the annual Walk A Mile In Their Shoes without the aid of her crutch.
Despite her conditions, Tamela joined Active Nation’s All Season’s Leisure Centre in Chorley and is busy training for the walk on 26th of April in aid of The Survivor’s Trust – an umbrella agency for over 135 specialist rape and sexual violence support organisations which help survivors of rape, sexual violence and/or childhood sexual abuse.
The 46-year-old, who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a young child, is determined to complete her fundraising mile unaided. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This is when your immune system – which usually fights infection – attacks the cells that line your joints, making them swollen, stiff and painful. Over time, this can damage the joint itself, the cartilage and nearby bone. Severely damaged joints can then develop osteoarthritis, which is what has happened in Tamela’s case.
She also suffers from fibromyalgia, this is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.
Tamela said: “I started the Walk a Mile in Their Shoes 4 years ago to help campaign and get signatures on a petition for more sexual assault resource centres in the UK. As a survivor of rape and child abuse I realised that some victims had to travel up to 80 miles to get to their nearest support centre.
“The good news is that last year we succeeded in the goal of 150,000 signatures needed and the Ministry of Justice granted a £4 million grant for 4 new centres to open this year, including one in Preston called the Trust House which I’ve been on the project board for. This is due to open on March 10th.”
Tamela says that her husband and friends have been a huge support to her in her fight to complete the walk. She added: “This year I really want to get my leg muscles built up so I can do the walk without the crutch. My doctor suggested swimming and light exercise to build the muscle tone back up. I am full of hope that this will help improve my walking and encourage others to join in with getting fit as it can really help with mobility and pain management, as well as help with your mental well being.
“My husband is great and has been encouraging me to get fit for this again, especially since my surgery last November. My friends are also a real help in supporting me to go through the challenge.”
Tamela is an inspirational woman on a mission to help others and a Local Hero in our opinion. If you would like to sponsor Tamela for the walk which is taking place at Chorley RUFC, Chancery Road, in Astley Village, visit http://www.justgiving.com/bikersagainstrape
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Posted By: Active Nation on April 29th, 2014 9:58 am
UPDATE!!! Following her Action Nation Pledge Tamela completed her mile without the use of her crutch.
She said: “I can’t tell you how thankful I am to your challenge – it gave me the motivation I needed to do the mile, but more important a longer termed challenge to be able to get to the point of not needing the cane and crutch at all.”