Hopeful Steps by Sarah Martin

My name is Sarah, and I wanted to do something to support Beam and give something back for everything it has done for me.

This year I’ll be taking part in the KiltWalk

and walking 21 miles from St Andrews to Dundee to raise money for Beam.

I’ve done the Kiltwalk before, and even though I love walking, 21 miles is still definitely a challenge! There will probably be some sore feet by the end of it, but it will all be worth it for such an amazing charity.

I first heard about Beam when I was doing a course called Your Story Reframed. That is where I met Clair. We shared our stories, became friends, and she encouraged me to come along to Beam.

At first, I really wasn’t sure if Beam was for me. I didn’t know if I would fit in or if I would get anything out of it. But I could not have been more wrong.

The first step was doing the Beam Wellbeing course. That course helped me so much. It gave me encouragement, support, and different ways to move forward. It also gave me tools and ideas for how to cope on difficult days when things felt overwhelming.

For the first time in a long time, I felt understood.

After I completed the Wellbeing course, I moved on to Carry on Beaming. I feel very proud and very blessed to be part of it because some of these mums have been part of Beam for years. Even though we all have different stories, there is so much understanding and support between everyone.

One of the things I love most about Beam is that there is no judgement. Everyone is there to support each other. There is laughter, kindness, honesty, and love. It is a safe space where women can be themselves without fear of being judged for their past or their struggles.

Clair encouraged me to lead a session one week, and honestly I was so nervous. I really did not think I could do it. But there was no need to worry because everyone was so supportive and encouraging.

That experience gave me confidence in myself and showed me how much healing can happen when women support each other.

I honestly believe Beam is one of the best charities ever.

Even though I live in Scotland and everyone else is miles away from me, I never feel far away when I’m with Beam. I am currently the only Beam member in Scotland, but the support and connection I feel through the group is incredible.

After one particularly good session, I decided I wanted to do something more. I wrote to the Scottish Government to tell them about Beam, how amazing the charity is, and how much I would love to have a group in Dundee one day.

I never expected to get a reply, but I did. I was invited to speak at the Scottish Government about Beam, my story, and why this kind of support is needed in Scotland.

That experience meant so much to me because it showed that people are listening and that there is hope for more mums to get the support they need in the future.

That is one of the reasons why I am doing the Kiltwalk.

I want to raise money to help Beam continue supporting mums like me. Beam changes lives. It helps women feel less alone. It gives mums support, friendship, understanding, and hope at times when they may feel completely lost.

I know first-hand how important that support can be.

Training has already started, so I’ll be keeping everyone updated along the way as I get my steps in and prepare for the big day.

If you would like to support me and help raise money for Beam, you can donate here:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-martin-823?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Thank you so much for your support; it really does mean a lot.

Love Sarah