KIRSTY Treloar was brutally murdered by her abusive ex-partner after she told him they could no longer be together.
Kirsty's family, who now live in Chelmsford, are determined that something will be learned from her death and have established The Kirsty Project to raise funds and awareness of domestic abuse.
In the campaign's inaugural event on Tuesday, what would have been the young mum's 23rd birthday, her sister Jade will face her fears and take part in a sponsored skydive to raise cash for Safer Places, an independent charity providing support and advice to victims.
"I want people to realise how serious domestic abuse is and not just accept it as something that happens," Jade told the Chronicle.
"My sister had an idea of what it was but nobody ever thinks it could turn into something like that for them.
"I want to make people aware that it can happen and find a way to be there for them, and support them.
"Me and Kirsty did everything together, she was always there for me like a mother, she always wanted to look after me and hold my hand if we were out shopping. Now I want to try and do the same thing for her baby."
Kirsty, who dreamed of becoming a midwife, met Myles Williams in Hackney in 2011 and became pregnant six weeks into their relationship.
She soon began arriving home with bruises but her family claim that despite asking for help from domestic violence organisations and social services she was not deemed sufficiently in danger to be re-housed or provided space in a refuge, and was instead returned to the family home in London.
"Social services said she needed to remain at her address – we were sitting ducks," said mother Pamela Dabney.
In December that year the violent 19-year-old was even arrested and released on bail after dragging Kirsty into the street while she was in the early stages of labour, but the family maintain the situation was not taken seriously enough.
Then on January 2, 2012 at around 7am Williams broke into the family home just 30 minutes after Kirsty, then 20, had told him the relationship was finished.
He stabbed the new mother 29 times in front of their three-week old daughter, dragged her body out the house and dumped it two miles away. He also stabbed her brother and sister as they desperately tried to save her.
In November that year Williams was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison for the murder, which he carried out just hours after making a New Year's Resolution never to hit his partner again.
"I don't feel that I've grieved properly as I feel very angry still that people in authority are sitting behind their desks and she's just another number," added Jade.
"A baby has lost her mum – I'm trying to use that anger to focus on worthwhile things, I can't think of anything else," added Pamela, 59, who moved the family to Chelmsford to give them a new start.
"I've lost my daughter and through The Kirsty Project we want to help somebody else that may be in the same situation as Kirsty and that can't get away. We want to get our heads into helping them.
"It's still a very taboo subject and men don't even see that they're abusing their partners. It needs to be brought to everyone's attention."
Last week Essex Police launched its Standing Together campaign ahead of the World Cup, when experts predict there will be a surge in domestic violence.
The campaign aims to break the taboo of discussing the topic through messages of empowerment from survivors.
To sponsor Jade, text TKTP99 £5 to 70070 or visit her fundraising page at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/thekirstyproject.
You can also like and share 'The Kirsty Project' via Facebook.
For more information email Kelly.simmons@saferplaces.co.uk
