Gloucestershire Echo

The walk for Hollie Friends and family to commemorat­e life

HOLLIE Gazzard’s life was cut short in an act of violence on February 18, 2014, when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at her workplace in Gloucester.

In the wake of this tragedy, the Gazzard family establishe­d the Hollie Gazzard Trust to honour her memory and work towards preventing similar incidents in the future.

This year marks the 10th anniversar­y of Hollie’s passing, and has made the Walk4holli­e fundraisin­g event even more poignant for Hollie’s family and friends.

Supporters of the charity, the Hollie Gazzard Trust, are invited to take part in the annual Walk4holli­e event on Sunday, May 12, commemorat­ing the life of Hollie and supporting efforts to combat domestic abuse in her name.

Hollie’s father Nick Gazzard said: “This year, 2024, marks the 10th anniversar­y of the Trust and of losing Hollie.

“We hold our annual Walk4holli­e to bring people together to remember her and think about all those that have been impacted by domestic abuse as we make our way along the 10km route around Gloucester.

“It is always an emotional time and as a family we are very grateful for the continued support that we receive from the community and amazed at the hundreds of people who usually join us each year on Hollie’s Walk.”

The Trust’s mission is clear: to save lives by fostering individual and community resilience against domestic abuse. They pursue this mission through three primary avenues:

» Raising Awareness: Through initiative­s like the monthly Hollie Gazzette, social media engagement, and fundraisin­g events like the Walk4holli­e, the Trust educates the public about the dangers of unhealthy relationsh­ips and the impact of domestic abuse and stalking.

» Promoting Positive Relationsh­ips: The Trust provides educationa­l workshops in schools, workplaces, and other organisati­ons to empower individual­s to cultivate healthy, safe relationsh­ips. These sessions cover topics such as domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control, sexual harassment, knife crime, and the Hollie Guard personal safety app.

» Prevention: With the aim of sparing others from Hollie’s tragic fate, the Trust offers the Hollie Guard app free of charge, providing a tool for individual­s

It is always an emotional time and as a family we are very grateful for the continued support that we receive from the community Nick Gazzard

experienci­ng domestic abuse and stalking to protect themselves.

The Walk4holli­e is a symbolic 10km route around Gloucester, Hollie’s home city, starting and finishing at The Glevum Inn in Longlevens.

This annual event serves as an opportunit­y for supporters to come together to remember Hollie and all those affected by domestic abuse and knife crime.

This year, the event is sponsored by Fraser Allen Estate Management.

Jodie Fraser said: “Sponsoring the Walk4holli­e is an immense honour for us at Fraser Allen Estate Management, especially as this year also marks a decade of dedication by the Trust to creating a safer community, not just in Gloucester, but across the UK.

“Come and join us and if you want to do your own walk - it’s National Walking Month after all - then you can do so and make a donation via our website.”

In honour of the 10th anniversar­y, participan­ts have the option to purchase a commemorat­ive purple T-shirt or polo shirt, symbolisin­g solidarity and remembranc­e.