Venus is Shifting the Shame

19/09/2026

JustGiving.com/page/venus

I’ve been a busy bee Pont y Bala parkrun . Raising funds for Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales

26th September - Wepre parkruntime to tackle those hills!

3rd October Nova Prestatyn parkrun…I’m coming back

10th October - Y Promenâd, Abermaw parkrun I hope the wind doesn’t blow me along the seafront!

11th - Chester Marathon, wearing your words of hope Chester Marathon, Half, 10K & Tri

19/09/2026

Run no.16 to for Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 💚!

Bee 🐝 is for Bala!

What a friendly bunch you are Pont y Bala parkrun 🫶🏼 thank you. This morning I told a friend “I’m so tired , I don’t want to run, I could cry” and now I’m driving away with my heart so full that I could cry 💚.

I couldn’t see the beautiful flat course through my costume but what I did hear , over the sound of the costume swishing was all of your support!

From Nicky who came and ran especially to see me, encouragement from Adele, little Rose in the pushchair who beat the bee with her dad and Paula who pushed me on to the finish line , running Bala for the first time! I do try and remember everyone’s names along the way!

I hate to whinge but I haven’t been well. Being in hospital has thrown me off track and I’m struggling to fuel myself correctly. Running is hard and each week, I’m getting slower and closer to the marathon… But then you guys show up and make me feel like I can take on the world and remind me why I’m sharing my story and raising money for an incredible cause 🫶🏼💚. Thank you 🤩

Next week, I’ll be tackling those Wepre parkrun hills … uh oh!

JustGiving.com/page/venus

15/09/2026

I’ve had lots of prizes kindly donated to me from various companies and local North Wales businesses.
Email [email protected] and you’ll get an auto reply with instructions on how to enter .
All in aid of Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales 💚🫶🏼

JustGiving.com/page/venus

🎁 £50 Abbott Lyon Voucher

🎁 £50 worth of vouchers for Cracked Coffee, Mold

🎁 One Month Pass for Tail Trail, Rossett

🎁 Voucher for a 5-Hour Challenge
Experience at Go Below

🎁 Two Sauna Seats at the first wood-fired outdoor sauna in North
Wales (Anglesey & Llanberis)

🎁Cafè Nero VIP drinks vouchers

🎁3x Class Pass for The Healing Space, Drury

🎁 A large bottle of prosecco

🎁Chocolate selection boxes

🎁 Next Hamper

🎁 A crate of Thatcher’s C***r

🎁 Weleda Skin Care set

🎁 Gregg’s voucher

🎁 standard class family ticket (x2 adults / x2 children) travelling
together on the Welsh Highland Railway’s ‘Gelert Explorer’ experience
from Caernarfon.

12/09/2026

JustGiving.com/page/venus

12/09/2026

Run no.15 to and raise money for Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales 💚
The most special costume run by far 🥹

🫶🏼I had some of you guys show up cheer us on along the course at Dolgellau parkrun and I was joined by Anna and her family!

Cassie and Elysa, two teenagers getting out of bed on a Saturday morning, putting on their trainers and deciding to run 5k , in the rain , is pretty amazing!

We started together, chatted our way around the course, kept each other going when it got tough… and crossed the finish line together.

🏃‍♀️Their first 5k.
And I think there’s something really powerful in that, taking the first step , and then another … until suddenly, the thing you weren’t sure you could do is behind you.

Thank you girls for proving that we can do hard things. Sometimes we just need someone beside us to remind us to keep going 💚

29 days until the marathon but before that , you can find me in costume at Pont y Bala parkrun next week!

JustGiving.com/page/venus

09/09/2026

Happy 6 months of running to me 🏃‍♀️.
27km! The furthest I’ve ever ran.

I didn’t hit my splits, I was 5 mins off target 🎯. I haven’t ran properly in weeks , marathon training has been nearly non-existent, so I’ll take it ✅ .

In between all the costume runs ,
I am training for Chester Marathon, Half, 10K & Tri, in aid of Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales 💚

JustGiving.com/page/venus

08/09/2026

Rich in life because this is what I got to listen to as I ran a half marathon back in May 🫶🏼💚.

Help me cross the finish line with words of hope : https://www.facebook.com/share/1DHD3YX5mU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Leave me a message to hear as I run my first ever marathon: https://runwithrally.com/r/9eb91ba4888c

Donate to my Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales fundraiser here : justgiving.com/page/venus

08/09/2026

33 days until the Chester Marathon… and 5 more embarrassing costume runs before then to ! 🫣

I’m already planning my marathon outfit. This challenge has always been about showing that embarrassment, shame and guilt belong to abusers, not survivors🫶🏼

💚I want to cross the finish line carrying hope instead.

It’s open to everyone. Whether you’ve donated, cheered me on, shared a post, or are simply following the journey, I’d love you to write one word of hope or a name, initial etc on a teal ribbon for me to wear during the marathon. Message me on here , via my fundraising email [email protected] or find me at one of the remaining parkruns x

If you haven’t donated and would like to add a ribbon, a £2 donation would be hugely appreciated, all of it goes to Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales 💚

Help Venus-Astrid Lamey raise money to support RASASC NW

07/09/2026

And somehow my Runna app thinks I can do a sub 3:30 for my first ever marathon!
justgiving.com/page/venus

Early mornings, running on two hours of sleep, weeks spent in hospital, and costumes taking over my spare rooms.

Thousands of pounds raised, hundreds of conversations started, and countless moments spent helping to .

Somewhere along the way, I’ve ditched the shame and I’m healing too🫶🏼💚

5 more costumes and 34 days until the marathon!

05/09/2026

Today was good for my soul 💚 a long update :

Costume number 14 to and raise money for Rasasc Gogledd Cymru/Rasasc North Wales . A dragon costume to match the dragon at the turnaround point! 🐉

After four weeks in hospital, I’m definitely feeling the effects. Running feels hard at the moment and, if I’m honest, being behind on my marathon training is making me a little worried.

Yesterday, I found myself back at the hospital after 4 weeks of being in and 24 hours of being out and, perhaps foolishly 🫣, discharged myself against medical advice. Sometimes friends , sunshine and a run can do more than any kind of medicine, though I don’t encourage anyone to do dangerous things! Listen to your body! I was miserable and my brain needed this.

This month is Su***de Prevention Month, and I was lucky enough to be joined by friends I met through The Baton Of Hope nearly a year ago. I carried the baton in memory of my brother, Carl, in Wrexham. These guys keep me going more than they probably realise💚 .Thank you, David, for pacing me today.

What stood out to me most was the incredible community at Old Railway Trail parkrun, Llangollen.
Thank you for not shying away from giving me a shout-out during the first-timers briefing, and also to Run Director Pete for explaining what I was doing.

Too often, we’re afraid to say the word ‘rape’ because of the negative social reactions that can come with it. That silence can leave survivors carrying embarrassment, shame and guilt that simply isn’t theirs to carry.

I’m determined to a to stop shying away from the word, stop shying away from the conversations, and stop missing opportunities for people to find the support they need.

36 days until the marathon. 🏃🏼‍♀️

Until next week, when I’ll be at Dolgellau parkrun! I haven’t planned a costume yet… any suggestions? 👀

JustGiving.com/page/venus 💚