'We’ve raised enough to employ an additional helpline worker for an entire year': Rape Crisis Scotland fundraiser smashes £20,000

Two Edinburgh women have smashed their £500 target, by raising a whopping £21,530 for Rape Crisis Scotland.

Brenna Jessie, 27 and Katie Anderson, 36, leapt into the sea at Portobello every morning for 16 days to raise money for the charity that they both work for.

They had initially hoped to raise £500, but after posting several spirited video’s of their icy cold dunks in the sea on twitter, the campaign really took off.

They had just hit the £16,000 mark when they were retweeted and supported by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who wrote: “What an impressive fundraising achievement for the vitally important @rapecrisisscot helpline”

The Just Giving page has now closed, and the whopping total raised was £21,530.

Brenna said: “I’m just so extremely grateful to everyone who rooted for survivors, for the amazing Rape Crisis Scotland team and for us by supporting #16swims.

"We honestly can’t thank folk enough.

Brenna and Katie smashed their initial £500 target.

“16 swims was a last minute idea dreamt up to give the helpline a wee boost - we hoped for £500 - £1000 tops - to raise over £21,000 is genuinely staggering.

"It doesn’t feel real.”

Brenna and Katie did a special day 17 dive in celebration of the spectacular amount raised.

Katie, who volunteered for the charity before taking a job with them, said: “I feel so grateful for all the support we've received from so many people, it's really been incredible!

"It's been really moving too see all the comments on the just giving from survivors saying how much the helpline means to them and what a difference it has made.

"Ultimately we made the decision to raise money for the helpline because we know how important a service it is and the comments we've had back that up.

"We will always stand in solidarity with survivors and it feels great to have been able to do it in such a concrete way and to now what a difference this amazing amount of money will make.”

Brenna added: “We’ve raised enough to employ an additional helpline worker for an entire year.

"These are really hard times for so many people and I know some days it can be hard to see the light. I could never have imagined we’d raise this much money, but money aside this has filled us with so much hope. This sends such a powerful message to survivors - that you are believed.

“That people you’ve never even met or heard of are rooting for you. That will never change.

“We also want to just say thank you to the Rape Crisis Scotland helpline team for providing the incredible and necessary service that they do.

"So many people through this have talked about this service as one which saved their life, and we are so glad to have been able to support their amazing work.”

For confidential help and support call the Rape Crisis Scotland helpline, phone [phone], text 07537 410 027 or email [email protected].

They also offer language interpreters and BSL if required.

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