Media opportunity: Darley Abbey Mills, Derby; Thursday June 22 starting at 5pm
Derbyshire-born actor Molly Windsor will be among more than 20 people who will tackle an evening fire walk tomorrow (Thursday June 22) to raise money for the county’s specialist child exploitation charity, Safe and Sound.
Molly, who lives in Breaston, has starred in several film and television dramas including ‘Three Girls’ which highlighted the manipulative methods used by perpetrators targeting vulnerable children and young people in Rochdale. She connected with Safe and Sound whose expertise particularly came to the fore during
the 2010 landmark case – Operation Retriever – which was Derby’s first prosecution for child sexual exploitation and abuse. Safe and Sound’s specialist team supported every young person affected by the criminal actions of 13 defendants who were jailed in total for up to 22 years for 70 offences.
Over the past six years, Molly has worked to raise awareness of child exploitation, raised vital funds and met with many of the young people and families whose lives have been affected by exploitation and who are supported by Safe and Sound and she is now an official ambassador for the charity.
She, members of the Safe and Sound team and representatives from local businesses and organisations, including Logic Barn and Derby Homes, will tackle the fire walk at Darley Abbey Mills from 5pm tomorrow evening.
The challenge is part of a three-part ‘Earth, Wind and Fire’ fundraising event and intrepid fundraisers can also join a 5k walk around Darley Park tomorrow afternoon as well as an 80ft abseil at Millers Dale on Saturday June 24 with spaces still available for all three elements.
The challenge aims to raise thousands of pounds to support Safe and Sound’s work across the county to protect and support children, young people and families whose lives are affected by child exploitation.
Last year, Safe and Sound supported a record 343 children and young people aged eight and above who had been victims of or at risk of child exploitation including online grooming sexual exploitation, County Lines, trafficking, modern slavery and radicalisation. The charity also supported 40 families whose lives had been affected by exploitation.
The charity heavily depends on fundraising to pay for its specialist 121 and group support, outreach and positive youth activities programmes.
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison explained: “We are delighted that Molly is joining us for the firewalk having joined our ‘Leap of Faith’ abseil fundraising three years ago. As one of our ambassadors, she works tirelessly to support our work in a number of ways.
“We have had a great response to the ‘Earth, Wind and Fire’ challenge and welcome last minute sign ups as well as donations on our Just Giving platform
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/earthwindfire.”
For more information and to sign up for the ‘Earth Wind and Fire’ adventure challenge, please visit https://www.safeandsoundgroup.org.uk/earth-wind-and-fire-adventure-challenge/