Blog Post One
Welcome to my blog! This is my first post - so hello from me to you, and the internet to me!
Hello! I’m Sarah! 23 years old, 5”5, and a generally happy person.
We’re all seen differently by different people. To some, I'm a daughter, a sister, or an auntie. To others, I'm a scientist, a waitress, a healthcare assistant. I'm a friend, a best friend, and an (ex)girlfriend. One identity that is scary to consider though is that of a victim.
A little googling reveals three main definitions of victim.
A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime
A person who has been tricked or duped
A person who has become helpless or passive in the face of ill-fortune or mistreatment.
It's the third definition I refute.
I do not feel hopeless nor passive, despite the mistreatment subjected to me. I do feel scared sometimes, but facing fears builds strength which is empowering. So let's look at the big, scary, hard-to-talk-about thing in just three words.
I was raped.
I'm not alone in that fact. My experience is not rare, and that is unacceptable. We need to change how we view: rape and sexual assault; approach prevention; and support survivors. It's hard to talk about, and I get that - but by talking about it we can face the fear that is caused by the theft of autonomy, safety, and wellbeing that comes with rape and sexual assault.
For those of you who have experienced it - a special hello. I appreciate you reading this. I'll be trying my best to keep what I write free from triggering language and will signpost to support services throughout (like just here). I can't articulate everything I want to say to you but simply, you're not alone, you’re not at fault, and you’re not any less of a person for how you've been treated. Everyone is different, but I want to help you know that you are unstoppable.
This is where my crazy adventure comes in. I am paralleling the challenge of speaking openly about rape and sexual assault with the challenge of ultradistance cycling.
I'm cycling across America, solo, in 60 days. I'll be starting in Yorktown, VA and zooming through ~2400 miles of national parks, mountain ranges, and farmland to Portland, OR. I'll have my food, clothes, and shelter all packed with me. This trip will be filled with gorgeous vistas, star-filled night skies, and beautiful memories. But it is not without risks…
America is big, more than 7x the length of the UK. The right to abortion was recently stripped of its federal protection which highlights the hostility that still exists towards women's rights. It reminded us that we cannot take the progress of women’s rights for granted. Guns are legal, and it’s going to be wet, cold, and long. Yet despite all this, the prospect of cycling solo across the US in 60 days is less fear-inducing than the thought of being in a room with the person who made me a victim.
There will always be scary things in the world, but they are a thief of our autonomy if we allow them to prevent us from living our lives. I feel it's this that separates survivors from victims. Even if at times we are helpless, like I was the night I was raped, we can face our fears and grow to be survivors that achieve greatness.
I’m doing all this to raise money for Rape Crisis, a charity which: provides specialist support to those affected by rape and sexual assault; educates individuals and institutions; and influences policy to bring about social change.
My JustGiving page is here. Please donate what you feel able to and share it with your friends and family. For less wordy updates, follow my instagram (@sarah_osborn) where I’ll be posting updates on training and the chaos of the trip.
