A FORMER Gazette reporter is taking on a walking challenge to help a charity that ‘saved her life.’

Ida Väisänen, from Kendal, is one of the many preparing to put their best feet forward for a good cause in the Keswick to Barrow walk in May.

The 27-year-old is raising money for The Birchall Trust, which offers counselling to people whose lives have been affected by sexual abuse and rape in South Cumbria and North Lancashire.

“They’ve honestly saved my life”, she said.

“The least I can do is to try help someone else to get the same help I’ve had.”

Ida experienced an abusive relationship but it was only years later she began to question what had happened to her.

“I thought that rape only happens when a stranger grabs you in a dark alley”, she said.

“I could’ve never imagined that someone who was supposed to love me could do that.”

Following the breakdown of the relationship she did not tell about her experiences to anyone.

“I thought that if I just focused on doing well in school and on my career, I would eventually be happy”, she said.

“But underneath it all I was desperately unhappy.

"I was having panic attacks and had started self-harming.”

Then one night, years later, she contacted a rape helpline.

“I just wanted to ask someone were the things my boyfriend did normal,” she said. “They referred me to Birchall. That’s how my journey began.”

Attending counselling has helped Ida, who now works as a writer at ICON, a sustainability education company, to understand her experiences.

“I now understand that what happened wasn’t my fault," she said.

"I wouldn’t be where I am today without Birchall."

Support Ida by searching her name on the K2B website or at www. keswick2barrow.co.uk/donate/185221?cid2=185221