A TAUNTON woman has collected and donated over 700 toys to families living in a domestic abuse refuge in the county town.
Sarah Kana-ah, who holds the Ms Diamond Somerset title, launched her collection at the start of July and took the toys to the SIDAS refuge on August 12.
She hopes the collection will bring positivity to children and families who have walked away from abusive situations.
“Being a survivor of abuse myself, this is something very close to my own heart,” said Sarah.
“Thank you to the community of Somerset who donated toys and supported my campaign.”
Sarah runs a support group called EMPOWER - Protecting Women's Safety, which teaches women self-defence skills and aims to build their confidence and self-esteem.
“Every day, I help educate around healthy boundaries and red flags in relationships through my support group,” said Sarah.
“If I can help build back that self-love and that strength and self-esteem for other survivors, then I feel they will realise their worth and not repeat the same cycles.
“My goal is to be a symbol of strength to others and that light at the end of the tunnel for anyone sat there thinking they can't get away from a perpetrator or feel that they aren't enough.
“My group has so many empowering survivors who have one thing in common by having lived the same life experience of being with an abuser.
“We share life experiences, daily struggles and support one another to help keep each other strong, giving one another hope and confidence to live a safe, happy, stable life again.”
Sarah will compete in the Miss Diamond United Kingdom final in Leeds in October.
If she wins, she will travel to Las Vegas to take part in an international pageant competition with the aim of empowering more survivors in the UK and abroad.
Sarah previously held the Miss Atlantic UK title and has also organised a Musgrove Park Hospital toy collection and donated Easter eggs to SIDAS.
SIDAS provides a refuge for female victims of domestic abuse and a safehouse offering accommodation for men and women.
It also offers programmes of support, including for people who want to change their abusive behaviour, and help for children and young people affected by abuse.
The County Gazette has contacted SIDAS for a comment.
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