‘Human Disco Ball’ from London named as finalist for this year’s GoCardless JustGiving Awards

The 28-year-old human rights lawyer from Worcestershire, alongside her friend Aaron Rajesh, from Canada, set themselves a goal of raising £120,000 for an emergency Solidarity Fund for the charity – with Freya dressed as a disco ball.

This fund, of which £20,390 has been raised so far, aims to provide a lifeline for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK by helping all of those in the UK detention system access free legal advice.

Freya’s fundraising campaign was inspired by her own mental health journey which saw her attempt to take her own life when she was just 16-years-old. After this, she took up running as a means of release and has never looked back since, having run 12 marathons, two ultramarathons and 50 half marathons for various charities over the last 13 years.

Freya and Aaron’s efforts have focused on bringing people together through sport and community, showcasing how refugees and migrants can be integrated into the UK in a kinder, more effective way through solidarity and positive celebration.

As part of her fundraising, Freya has led disco-themed warm-ups at events, hosted fun runs and competitions (Blue Monday Run, Race2Crate, Mental Health Awareness Week Prize Draw), raced at Manchester, Hackney and Bristol as the Human Disco Ball, become a Run Social ambassador and mentored members of the Refugee Running Club. She also documented her efforts which have been captured in her documentary, Free Movement, scheduled for release in late 2024.

The peak of her activities accumulated in June 2023, when Freya ran 200km non-stop with her friend from Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol to Brookhouse Detention Centre, near Gatwick Airport, over a period of 43 hours. The route included fields, dual carriageways, woodlands, canals, running through day and night.

Freya, who lives in Sydenham, London, said: “I was overjoyed to receive my nomination. At first, I was shocked, because even though the Human Disco Ball campaign has had so much support from sports communities across the UK, and the wider public, asylum and detention can be so inhumanely and negatively distorted. This nomination shows me how much people really do care... and that brought me to tears.

“I cannot wait to meet all the other nominees in September. I find other people’s journeys really inspiring, and I am going to get to be in the room with other nominees. It will encourage me to keep going as we work on the Free Movement documentary, when things get difficult and will remind me of all the other important causes and ways that what I do overlaps with mental health, family, medicine, humanitarian protection, education and sports. I know my 16-year-old self would be so proud of everything I have achieved so far.”

After being nominated by members of the public, Freya, was selected as a finalist by a panel of judges which included television reality star and singer, Jake Quickenden, Strictly Come Dancing dancer, Amy Dowden, actor and presenter, Sunetra Sarker, award-winning British broadcaster, Adele Roberts, award-winning BBC Radio 1 presenter and DJ,Rickie Haywood-Williams and former Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds OBE, award-winning fundraiser Caroline Jones, MD of UK & Ireland and Chief Customer Officer at GoCardless, Pat Phelan and the president and general manager of JustGiving, Pascale Harvie.

This year will mark the 12th year of the JustGiving Awards. From more than 18,000 nominations, the judges had the tough job of shortlisting 21 inspiring finalists, three in each of the seven awards categories. There is also a Special Recognition Award, appointed by JustGiving, for an individual who has gone above and beyond to raise money and make a difference.  

Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving said: “In every way imaginable Freya has dedicated her life to supporting those in need of asylum. Not only has she dedicated her career to the cause but she has also spent years raising funds for those in need.

“Freya's continued determination is truly remarkable, and we cannot wait to celebrate Freya and all of our incredible finalists at our awards ceremony in September."

Members of the public now have the opportunity to vote for the fundraisers they want to see crowned for their efforts via the JustGiving website.

Annie Campbell, Director, Bail for Immigration Detainees, said: “Freya has been amazing. She came to us with this super ambitious proposal to fundraise on the basis of a 200km run from Bristol to Brook House coupled with a series of mini training runs as the Human Disco Ball.

"We thought it sounded like a great idea that would help to raise awareness about immigration detention. She’s a powerhouse and before we knew it she was working to make it happen and happen it did.

"She worked tirelessly on the PR and was able to secure interviews with the BBC, ITV and a Running Magazine as well as getting the Refugee Running Club involved. Her energy and commitment throughout have been amazing and the money she raised has helped us to secure justice for our clients in detention. She 100% deserves to win this.”

The eight winners will be announced at the ceremony which takes place at London’s Roundhouse on the evening of September 18. Winners will be presented with their official trophy by some of the biggest celebrities and fundraising legends in the UK.

Pat Phelan, MD of UK & Ireland and Chief Customer Officer at GoCardless said: "I'm so pleased to see Freya recognised as a finalist in this year's GoCardless JustGiving Awards. I was blown away by her dedication to helping refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and I'm glad that we're able to shine a light on her efforts."