Birthday fundraiser planned to raise awareness of domestic abuse

Sam Billingham will use the occasion to help raise funds for Survivors Of Domestic Abuse (SODA) and The Haven in Wolverhampton.

The 39-year old, from Quarry Bank, set up SODA in 2009, three years after leaving her abusive relationship.

She is also an ambassador for The Haven, meaning both causes are close to her heart.

She said: “I set up SODA in order to help others as I didn’t have any sort of support system when I was going through the situation I was in.

"It has helped me a lot as it has taught me empathy, rather than just sympathy, meaning I can understand and relate to what the other person is going through.”

The event on April 18 will be a celebration of her 40th birthday, but Sam also wants to raise awareness of domestic violence and the support available.

There will be an appearance by the Doggy Style Boys, a group of 10 men who are raising funds for male cancer charity Balls to Cancer.

Other entertainment on the night will include a magician, face painter and a raffle will also take place, with all funds raised being split equally between SODA and The Haven.

Sam hopes the event will raise around £1,000 with The Haven’s half going straight to the refuges the charity runs.

The other half would fund SODA’s Freedom programme, a 12-week course to help build up confidence, understand early signs of abuse and help those who have suffered from abusive relationships.

Sam spoke about what it meant to her to be able to put on such a fundraiser.

She said: “It’s an honour to be able to do this and to have the support of so many people, who are doing things like making sandwiches and cakes.

“They can all relate to domestic abuse in all its forms and I think it is really powerful that we can bring people together and help with events like this.”

The event takes place on April 18 starting at 7pm at Benjamins, in Birmingham Street, Halesowen.