Alcohol and stealing were part of her life from an early age, and as her behaviour continued to worsen, her drug use increased. It led her into many dangerous situations, including staying in abandoned warehouses and unsafe accommodation. To make matters worse, she was moved between several different locations, which meant she lost friends and support networks.

At 21, she experienced an abusive relationship and a complicated and painful pregnancy termination which brought on PTSD. After leaving her partner, Jerry spiralled into depression and severe anxiety. She was now more isolated than ever, fearing she had no hope of getting better, and she became suicidal.

The turning point came when her therapist suggested she attended the Freedom Project run by Women’s Aid. After a six-week programme, she was referred to The Running Charity.

When Jerry first joined us, she was highly anxious, unfit and unsure of her abilities. But she engaged well with the one-to-one sessions, deciding they were worth the stress that leaving her flat caused her. She soon began to love running – especially the goal-setting element – and started attending the group sessions as she became more comfortable around other people. Gradually, she increased her distance to 5km and began coming to us more regularly.

She has since done several races and continues to push herself and reap the benefits in her health and mood. Recently, she enrolled on a personal trainer course, keen to help other young people who have experienced difficult pasts like hers. She’s a fantastic young woman who has overcome so much and tirelessly supports and cares for those around her. The Running Charity is honoured to be a part of her journey and continues working with her and supporting her search for a safe and secure home. She is currently gearing herself up for her biggest running challenge yet: the 2021 London Marathon.