Domestic violence survivor to run 1,100km from Broken Hill to Melbourne to raise awareness

Sandy Suckling has run all over the world but didn't always have a passion for running.

As a domestic violence survivor, she has used running as an escape, a distraction, and eventually as a way to slowly heal from her trauma.

«It was an escape where I didn't have to think … just run,» she said.

«It helped me to start taking control back in life and from being a victim.»

The 62-year-old is continuing her healing process and plans to amplify the conversation about domestic violence by running 1,100 kilometres from Broken Hill to Melbourne in 21 days.

Through spreading awareness, she hopes to help other sufferers find their own strength to leave a situation where the fear of the unknown can often be just as scary as staying.

At the age of 18, Ms Suckling was married and living on a farm in South Gippsland, Victoria. By the time she was 24, she had three children.

«It was a very isolating life,» she said.

«I was in a relationship where everything was negative about my life, everything I did was wrong.»

While she thought often about leaving,it wasn't until her children were approaching their teenage years that Ms Suckling built up enough courage to finally walk away.

«Many a day the fear of leaving was worse than the fear of staying, but I got stronger and kept running,» she said.

«I ended up leaving in my early 30s. I had one child at primary school and the other two were in lower levels of high school and that was when I just randomly one day said, 'that's it'.»

«He left for work, I packed up the car and left and fled, I think, for 12 months.

»I had an order on him, and he still turned up at places and dragged me out and everything else. I mean, it was awful, but we got through it."

Ms Suckling attributes much of her recovery to