RAPE survivor and inspirational speaker Alison – who suffered near-fatal injuries when her throat and abdomen were savagely slit by ripper rapists Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger at Noordhoek in 1994 – spoke at the Port Elizabeth Opera House at the inauguration of the "Sista’s” support group for women at the weekend.
Garnering global acclaim after surviving the attack, the former Port Elizabeth resident has maintained a busy schedule of speech appearances around the world.
Speaking at the Barn, she recalled the aftermath of the attack.
"I remember my family being so horrified when they came to see me and I was so upbeat about everything and I just wanted to talk about all the details of it.
"Obviously, you know, it was upsetting, but I was just so happy to be alive. I didn’t want to waste any time, and I needed them to see that.”
After 18 years of promoting her story of courage, Alison has taken up with Bay resident Sharmain Guest to form the Sista’s support group.
Guest said she just knew she wanted to work with Alison.
The group, which plans to open chapters in various cities, will offer mentorship programmes, talks, events, networking and a 12-step recovery programme for women with eating disorders.
Alison spoke candidly about her attack, the publishing of her book, I Have Life, her children, marriage, and subsequent divorce.
"I feel the lessons I’ve learned along my journey need to be shared with other women,” she said.
"I’ve been approached to do things like Sista’s will be doing before but I never wanted to promise too much.
"My life has just been so hectic. I’ve done other things – endorsed self-defence classes, that sort of thing – but I usually leave it to the creators once it is started so I can be free to have a family and concentrate on my own work.
"With Sista’s I’m looking forward to interacting with people via our website and sharing my thoughts and insights with people in need.”
