Gloucestershire domestic abuse charity, The Hollie Gazzard Trust, is encouraging people all over the county to wear purple on Friday 8 July 2022 to celebrate Purple HollieDay.
Purple HollieDay takes place in July each year in remembrance of Hollie Gazzard, who was fatally stabbed by her ex-partner at the Gloucester hair salon where she worked in 2014, after suffering domestic abuse throughout her relationship.
Her eponymous charity encourages individuals, households, businesses, schools and organisations all over the county to #GoPurple and fundraise to help it put an end to domestic abuse and stalking for good.
Nick Gazzard, Hollie Gazzard’s father and founder of the trust, said: ‘Purple HollieDay recognises the joy for life that Hollie had. We encourage you to be creative and have fun as you #GoPurple to raise funds for and awareness of the work of the trust.
‘Hollie was a determined and successful individual, a true inspiration for others, loved by her family and friends and highly regarded by colleagues and clients alike. Hollie was vibrant, fun, vivacious, talented and beautiful.
‘It is a day for Hollie, but it is also a special day for all of us to think about how we would like to be treated in our relationships.’
As well as providing workshops in schools and colleges to help educate young people about the issues of domestic abuse and stalking, the charity has also created the Hollie Guard app to help protect women while out and about.
Available on Apple and Android phones, the app has two modes – deterrent mode, where the phone will display a red alert screen, capture your GPS location, notify chosen contacts and record audio and video footage, as well as generating a high-pitched alarm sound and flashing light when the phone is shaken; and stealth mode, which allows the user to raise a silent alert while a default home screen is displayed to remain inconspicuous when the user feels they’re not safe to call for help.
Alison Hook, chairperson for the Hollie Gazzard Trust, added: ‘The issues Hollie faced before her tragic death are very difficult for many people to discuss. But our work is focussed on making a positive difference. We are helping young people create happy and healthy relationships, through the Domestic Abuse and Stalking Workshops we deliver in schools and colleges.
‘Through our free Hollie Guard app, we are helping people of all ages and all situations stay safe. Your donation or fundraising for Purple HollieDay will be used to provide workshops and training in schools and colleges – because we believe education is the key to addressing abuse in relationships.’
Purple HollieDay takes place on Friday 8 July 2022.
