Weymouth woman in challenge in memory of murdered relative

Helen Caffrey, 51, from Weymouth is raising money for the Blunt Truth which aims to educate the next generation about the consequences of knife crime.

It’s a cause extremely close to her heart as her cousin’s 16-year-old son, Charley Bates, was murdered in a knife attack in Radstock, Somerset, last year. A 19-year-old man was jailed for life for the crime.

Helen is undertaking the challenge with three others who are fundraising for different causes - Mary Bird, 41, from Portland, Jane Hallett, 57, from Bridport, and Ruth Magee, 59, from Dorchester.

Helen said: “I wanted to do this in Charley’s name and his parents would like the money to go to the Blunt Truth because of the great work they are doing.”

The Blunt Truth is a collaboration between Avon and Somerset Police and the NHS, which sees hour-long workshops delivered in schools with the ultimate aim to prevent knife assaults from taking place.

Helen, who works for South Western Ambulance Service, decided that she wanted to swim the English Channel as it’s ‘the one thing that terrifies her.’

She said: “I had never swum in the sea until 18 months ago. If I was going to raise money in Charley’s name, I had to do something that scared and challenged me, and it had to be something big.”

The group during training (Image: Helen Caffrey)

Helen Freeman, Charley’s mother, said: “Following the tragic loss of our beloved Charley boy, we have been overwhelmed by the love and support shown to us by so many.

“Knowing that Helen and the team are taking on the huge challenge of a channel swim in honour of our Charley boy is truly amazing. We are sending her love and strength in every stroke of the way.”

Charley Bates (Image: Helen Caffrey)

Helen Caffrey was supposed to be taking part in the challenge earlier on this year, however she fell ill and found herself in need of surgery, later developing sepsis and ended up in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) in Bristol’s Southmead Hospital from March until May this year.

She said: “My sepsis began in my stomach so has caused some ongoing difficulties with eating and drinking. I had six operations whilst in HDU. My family have been so supportive and visited me two or three times a week.

“What got me through sepsis was remembering why we were doing this challenge and who we were doing it for It was a really difficult fight.”

Helen Caffrey explained that both Charley’s friends and his sister’s friends had been so supportive and ‘amazing’ to his family following the murder.

She added: “Those youngsters are absolutely amazing, and his family are still feeling the support of the community around them which is really important.

“It’s something so tragic and out of that, the strength that all the family have felt from these youngsters has been worth so much to them - That’s what gets me out of bed every day.

“I just so want to get to France and show Charley’s parents how much he means to us all.”

If you would like to donate to the group’s efforts, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-dorset-full-monties-channel-swim?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

You can keep up to date with their efforts via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093234063291.

The group are also looking for sponsors to help them out along their journey to swim the English Channel.