Abi Blake suffered a broken neck, a bleed on her spinal cord, broken ribs, and a hole in her lung after her then-husband violently attacked her one night.

That was in 2017 and she believes she wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for MyCWA, Cheshire Without Abuse.

Now the domestic abuse charity, which has helped women, men and their children for nearly 50 years, faces the prospect of having to close its services from April after Cheshire East Council axed its funding.

A fundraiser to help save services such as a 24/7 crisis helpline, emergency refuge accommodation and a community store in Macclesfield recently hit its first milestone, reaching £50,000 in donations.

Abi, who is campaigning to help with fundraising, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I was punched in the back of my neck to the floor and my head cracked on a side table and while I was on the floor he kicked and stamped all over my body.

"From that I had a broken neck, a bleed on my spinal cord, a fractured cheek, I don't know how many ribs were broken, and a hole in my lung because one of the ribs had perforated my lung."

READ MORE: Domestic abuse charity's future hanging in the balance as urgent funding appeal launched

MyCWA Chief Executive Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie (left) and survivor Abi Blake (Credit: PDR Photography)

Abi says she passed out and when she woke up she dragged herself into the road outside.

"There were two passersby, thank goodness, and they called an ambulance and must have called the police," she said.

Abi's former husband, who has since died, was sentenced to four years in prison but released after seven months after pleading guilty at a hearing 19 months after the attack.

But her court agony lasted for five years as other civil matters were contested.

During that time Abi had to learn to walk again and was trying to get her life back together, knowing she was unable to return to work.

"MyCWA supported me from start to finish," she said.

"I went on the gateway course for two weeks and that was where I met other survivors to learn about the mental manipulation and coercion that happens.

"From that point onwards, I remained with MyCWA as one of their survivors, going to their support groups every week.

"They had an open-door policy where you could ring 24/7 at any point if you were struggling.

"It could be 2am – they literally had someone on the phone who would just be there as a tower of support, if you're lost, afraid. Just someone to listen to you.

"During regular hours they had their doors open for survivors who needed to run to the centre, so they did have that refuge opportunity, which I didn't know about at that time so couldn't."

She said MyCWA hosts family legal clinics and 'solicitors would come in pro-bono and give 45 minutes to an hour of advice where they could'.

"Police officers would come in so they could speak to you and try to break down the barriers and the assumption that all police officers don't believe you," she said.

"There were so many different types of clinics you could attend or that professionals would come in and speak to you."

She added: "There's lots of mental health support workers there. There were trained therapists and counsellors to speak to.

"They also supported you with social care, they supported you with police officers, they would attend court, they were just a tower of strength.

"I know they work with survivors of rape. They're specialised in every form of trauma, every form of domestic abuse. They were fantastic."

Abi fears if MyCWA is forced to close its services, victims will either put up with the violence, possibly be killed, take their own lives or resort to drugs.

"It will result in a boiling pot of suicides, deaths and substance abuse," she said.

ALSO READ: 'They saved my life' – Domestic abuse survivors fearful as support services face closure

MyCWA's Macclesfield store (Credit: Studio One Photography)

Cheshire East Council insists supporting victims of domestic abuse remains a priority.

Children and families committee chair, Cllr Carol Bulman (Middlewich, Lab), said: "We commissioned MyCWA on a fixed-term contract to supplement our domestic abuse services until March 2025.

"As this contract is nearing its end, it does not require a formal notice of termination…

"The council provides a robust suite of in-house services, including the domestic abuse family safety unit, statutory children's services, and strong partnerships with Cheshire Police, housing providers and the voluntary sector.

"Together, these services ensure comprehensive, integrated support for children, young people, victims, and perpetrators of domestic abuse."

My CWA is currently fundraising to try and keep its services going.

Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/savemycwa.