A FUND-RAISING mum who has worked tirelessly for a centre supporting the victims of rape and sexual abuse is reaching the finishing line after collecting £11,310.

When she started out, the target was to raise £3,000 but by the end of last year she had raised almost £8,500.

Nicki Lloyd, aged 42, of Marden, Herefordshire, tackled a 415-mile cycle trip in the sweltering humidity of Vietnam but has carried on raising money for the Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WRSASC) based in Worcester.

Her final fund-raiser is a cyclathon in aid of WRSASC at Sainsbury’s in St John’s, Worcester, on Saturday.

“I feel the time is right to bow out on a high,” she said.

It comes as recent government funding is helping to develop a new centre in Herefordshire which is providing a new and vitally important support service in the county.

Mrs Lloyd said: “I decided I needed to set myself a challenge and I knew it needed to be a big one.

“I also wanted to give something back to an organisation that has helped me so much and hopefully by doing this I could make a positive difference for others too.”

Her first target was to raise £3,000, but with the help of supporters, this quickly grew to £6,000 after two cyclathons.

And by the time she reached Vietnam, she had raised £8,000, almost three times her original target.

“Vietnam was a massive challenge both physically and mentally but it was the achievement of a lifetime and a truly rewarding experience, shared with wonderful people.”

After another cyclathon, a race night and a 100-mile cycle event this year, she raised £11,310, with the money going to fund a volunteer training course and to help develop the newly emerging Herefordshire centre. “The support centres provide a vitally important service for women who may need help and support,” she said.

“If, through my fund-raising other women also find the courage to break their silence and get the help, and support they deserve and need then I have achieved what I set out to do.”

For more details about Mrs Lloyd’s fund-raising visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NicjLloyd1 l The WRSASC and HRSASC provides a free, confidential and non-judgemental support service.

All enquiries will be treated equally, sensitively and confidentially; appreciating the courage required to break silence, overcome guilt and threats, and share the events of the past whether they happened days or years ago.

For details about the centres and their services call 01905 724514 or visit wrsasc.org.uk.