Rape victim to help charity that supported him through his most difficult time

A man who turned to a charity for support after a sexual assault is raising vital funds for the organisation.

Towards the end of a night out in Manchester with a friend on September 2 last year, Mr Sam Thompson was assaulted by two people who he didn’t know.

Although he reported the attack the following day, police took no further action due to a lack of evidence.

Throwing himself into work, Sam tried to cope with the traumatic experience but suffered a breakdown in January this year.

He referred himself to the Survivors Manchester charity, which helps male victims of sexual abuse.

The 22-year-old now wants to give back to the organisation.

“Before it happened to me, I never thought about a man getting raped,” said Sam.

“I drilled myself into the ground by not talking about it, trying to continue with what I perceived as normal.

“I had a breakdown and lost my job as a recruitment consultant. The GP prescribed me anti-depressants but I didn’t want to take any.

“When I first went into therapy, I was completely against it — I had my own prejudices — but it is about talking to someone.

“I found that if someone is going to talk, someone is going to listen.

“Men shouldn’t have to feel that they should just bottle things up.

“Because you are getting upset doesn’t make you any less of a man. If it brings you to tears, that’s ok.

“One of the things I have learnt from being in therapy is that the hardest thing to do is to break the silence. Once I started to talk about it, I found it easier.

“I am hoping if I can do it to this level then I might help other people. They could talk to their family or charities.

“Instead of keeping myself anonymous, I wanted to turn it (the experience) into something positive.

“Reporting it is not an easy thing to do.”

Sam, a professional DJ known as Bassduckfresh, lives in Winthorpe but commutes regularly to Manchester as much of his work is there.

He wants to raise money for Survivors by holding a 48-hour DJ marathon in the city beginning at 7pm on July 21, which will be broadcast over the internet.

Sam has contacted Guinness World Records and will set a new mark should he complete the task. He has already completed 24-hour and 36-hour DJ marathons.

He said: “Ever since I was a little kid I have wanted that certificate from Guinness.

“I have raised money for Cancer Research and the Alzheimer’s Society in the past, but I wanted to do it for something more personal this time.

“When I did the 24-hour marathon in 2013 it was all about sugar, but I learnt my lesson. A year later I did 36 hours and for the first 24 hours of that one, I didn’t have any caffeine or sugar.

“I will cover all genres and I won’t play the same record twice.”

You can donate at Sam Thompson's fundraising page for Survivors Manchester.