Miles4Pride

This Pride I’ll be taking on Miles4Pride, with the aim of walking 50 miles this month with all the proceeds going towards Rainbow Migration. If you know anything about me, you know exercise isn’t exactly a close friend of mine so you’re probably wondering why I’ve decided to do this. Well, here’s why…

Every year Pride comes around and although it brings me such joy to see so many of us visibly celebrating ourselves, I always find myself feeling a little uncomfortable enjoying the liberties that so many before me fought for without proactively continuing that fight myself.

During my time at Hollyoaks I began volunteering at Mary Seacole House in Liverpool. MSH supports Global Majority and Refugee communities with their mental health, providing much needed support for some of our most vulnerable communities. While working there I met amazing people from all over the world, with stories just as broad. Then, last summer, I was asked to write and perform a monologue at a Queer South Asian event on the theme of Freedom. The invaluable experience of working with the people I met at MSH, finding out more about my own family history of persecution and displacement and my own queer identity led me to research the specific treatment of Queer Refugees in this country and what the challenges of seeking asylum here are.

I came across the most harrowing stories of cruelty, from having to ‘prove’ their queerness in the most demeaning and invasive ways to being placed in detention centres despite never committing a crime. Can you imagine fleeing your home in the pursuit of freedom and safety, only to be imprisoned for doing so?

Rainbow Migration’s work endeavours to support LGBTQI+ people in need of protection both emotionally and legally, fighting for a kinder and safer immigration system. With Pride Month and Refugee Week (17th - 23rd) coinciding, what a time to provide our support. Their stories could mine or yours. Their stories are ours. Their hopes and dreams are ours. Their fight is ours. THAT is what Pride is about.

Below, Rainbow Migration break down how your donation could help:
‘£100 could pay for five one-to-one emotional support calls to help people feel comfortable and understood.
£250 could pay for all members of our support groups to attend an in-person support group session.
£500 could pay for ten LGBTQI+ people to receive specialist legal advice on how to apply for asylum.’

If you’re in the position to, please consider supporting this amazing cause. Whether it’s £1 or £20, every penny counts and would mean the absolute world to me. If you’re not in a position to offer a donation, please offer your support by sharing this page far and wide. Oh and just so you know I'm actually doing it... I'm using the app 'pacer' to track my miles and I will be sharing my progress each day on my instagram stories - @ashlingoshea

*as I have already reached my 50 miles mark, I’ve decided to DOUBLE my aim and walk 100 miles in the next 13 days. 

Thank you!!