Family mark ten years of Hollie Gazzard murder raising awareness of domestic abuse

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 fund-raising 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 Gazzard 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.

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“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 organizations 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 experiencing domestic abuse and stalking to protect themselves.

The Walk4Hollie is a symbolic 10km route around Gloucester, Hollie's home town, 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 graciously 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. For more information, please visit here.