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Mum uses TikTok profits to buy women's refuge supplies

Katie Tradie Katie Tradie sits on the edge of her open boot car, full of bags of supplies, with one foot on the back bumper. She wears low rise uggs and a checked gilet. She has blonde hair and smiles at the camera. Katie Tradie
Across December, Katie Tradie is donating all her profits made from her TikTok account to her local refuge

A social media influencer is spreading Christmas cheer by donating her profits to buy supplies for her local domestic violence refuge.

Katie Tradie, 30, is using the profit made on her TikTok account this month to buy essential supplies to help women who are victims of domestic abuse.

"I've been in bad positions myself and a lot of my followers are mums. Sometimes they leave with only the clothes on their back," she said.

Ms Tradie had even used her own savings for the first donation, as she has to wait a month to receive the money from her TikTok videos.

Speaking to Radio Wales Drive, Ms Tradie said after previous money struggles, her family are in a place where they can afford to help others.

"Everyone forgets about the mums and the women in these situations," she said.

Known online as The Tradie Wife, Ms Tradie has a follower count of nearly 440k and said the videos are "taking on a life of their own" as she has gone from raising £250 pounds to £1,000 since the start of the month.

"I'm so glad it's raising awareness, it makes me happy people are thinking of donating to their local refuge because of it," she added.

Katie Tradie Katie Tradie with her three children, her youngest child sits on her hip in a full red and white santa costume, while her son and daughter stand to the right of her. Katie has blonde mid length hair, she wears a grey sweatshirt and a red santa hat. Katie Tradie
The mum of three says she has been through difficult times herself and wants to pay it forward

The donations to Thresold DAS refuge centre in Llanelli, which supports domestic abuse victims, are made up of essential supplies from pyjamas to toothbrushes.

"Sometimes they've only got the clothes on their back," Ms Tradie said.

She receives roughly 27p for every 1,000 views, meaning viral videos can raise hundreds of pounds.

Her daily content varies from charity shop hauls to day in the life vlogs, but she says the donation videos have gained the most engagement, with three million views collectively.

Ms Tradie added friends and shop workers rallied around to help.

Katie Tradie Katie Tradie, holds her daughter in her arms, both of them smiling. Her baby daughter wears a green dress with gold stars and a blue raincoat. Katie wears a black hoodie, red santa hat and has long blonde hair. Katie Tradie
Katie Tradie worries that mums are often forgotten about

Victoria Pedicini, 53, who has worked at Threshold DAS for 25 years, said: "We get lots of donations over the years, but this has really touched us, actually, what Katie is doing.

"It's not any easy environment for families to move into, children are taken away from all that they know. It's a lifeline for those affected.

"All the help she is having through people following her, liking and sharing, they are all making a difference for those experiencing domestic abuse."

If you are affected by any of the issues mentioned, there are details of organisations on the BBC Action Line website.

Additional reporting by Tom Phipps.