Fundraising
Marathon runner raising funds for BFMS
Carolyn
Asher was born in Leicester and migrated south-west in 1986. She initially
trained as a Therapy Radiographer (treating cancer patients with high
energy x-rays) but a back injury resulted in her re-training and working
as a secretary/PA in a variety of locations, including a short spell for
the Crown Prosecution Service (which included dealing with child abuse
cases). She returned to healthcare for the next 8 years, working as a
PA to a Cancer Specialist before joining the pharmaceutical industry and
promoting medicines to GPs and hospital doctors. In October 2004 she enrolled
as a full-time student at Exeter University and has just started a 3 year
BSc (Hons) course in Exercise and Sport Science. She is also doing some
part-time work in the area of Communication Skills which she hopes to
ultimately combine with her degree as a career. As you can see opposite, Carolyn ran the 25th London Marathon on Sunday
17 April 2005 and has so far managed to raise over £1000 for the
BFMS. The following is an extract from Carolyn's website
which summarises the reasons for her involvement with the BFMS:-
I first became aware of the possibility of ‘false memory’ when, around 10 years ago, I read a Readers’ Digest article. It concerned a very decent American-Jewish family whose 15 year old son found himself at the centre of a child abuse allegation. Despite the family’s finest personal and financial efforts, those responsible for ‘Child Welfare’ seemed to believe it more important to manipulate the facts to fit an opinion rather than to look at the facts and reach an objective conclusion. I feel I’m fortunate in that I’ve been brought up to question. “Does it look right – if not it probably isn’t” my late father regularly said. I therefore believe it is essential to “Look beyond; Go beyond” as many situations in life look very different at depth than when viewed at surface level – much as the true nature of an iceberg is out of view beneath the sea. A few years ago, whilst taking a friend/customer out to dinner I was discreetly asked if an arrest made close to where I live concerned anybody I knew. Whilst I wasn’t certain, other things I knew fell into place and I had a totally heart-sinking suspicion that it did. I also believed, and still do, that what appeared to be the case was a far cry from reality.
This started me on a very informative and personally demanding journey which has resulted in my becoming involved in supporting the work of BFMS. On Sunday 17 April 2005 I plan to run the 25th London Marathon to raise funds for what I believe to be a very worthy cause.
The
BFMS is delighted to support Carolyn in her demanding task to run for
the benefit of families falsely accused of historic abuse. It is not only
brave of her to take on a personally challenging schedule to reach the
fitness levels demanded of a marathon runner but also to run for a non-too-popular
cause. It is sadly now possible for anyone to become the subject of an
historic abuse investigation although they are innocent of any crime.
That may sound unbelievable but far too many people have had to face this
awful fact and many more of us know someone, who knows someone who is
affected. Carolyn is to be commended for her determination to raise the
profile of this injustice and she deserves all the support we can muster
for her.
To find out how to support Carolyn and the BFMS click here.