Parents of Australian au pair Sara Zelenak, 21, killed in London Bridge terror attack launch charity in her name

Sian Bayley28 August 2018

The parents of an Australian au pair who died in the London Bridge terror attack today said they wanted to give back to the capital as they announced the launch of a charity in her name.

Mark and Julie Wallace said their daughter, Sara Zelenak, 21, had been “having the time of her life” in London before her life was cut short when terrorists rampaged through London Bridge and Borough Market on Saturday, June 3 last year, killing seven others and injuring dozens more.

The couple had to travel to London “under the most horrific circumstances”, but added they “fell in love with the place” and were determined to create something positive in her memory. “We wanted to honour our daughter and help people who had also suffered from sudden deaths in that way by offering holistic healing,” said Ms Wallace.

Admitting that they “tried everything” to try to cope with her death, the family discovered that “every individual finds a different way to deal with own grief”.

The charity, Sarz Sanctuary, is due to open in the couple’s native Brisbane next year and is expected to launch a UK branch. It will provide seven-day funded programmes with access to counsellors, physiotherapists, reiki therapists, yoga instructors and dieticians.

Healing: Parents Mark and Julie Wallace set up the Sarz Sanctuary
Family Collect

By sharing their experiences about how they grieved, the Wallaces hope more people who have suffered traumatic grief will find peace.

“We still have sad days, especially Sara’s birthday, Christmas and Mother’s and Father’s Day. It doesn’t go away, but it’s just being able to cope,” said Mrs Wallace. Mr Wallace added: “By creating this sanctuary, Sara is with us all day and is part of what we’re doing. Talking about Sara has been great healing. It helps us grieve and move forward with Sarz.”

Sara Zelenak with dad Mark Wallace
Family Collect

The charity’s logo uses Ms Zelenak’s handwriting for the “arz” to deepen the connection to her. “It’s her legacy, we’re just the people implementing it,” Mr Wallace said.

James Galvin, a former Met Police officer and UK trustee for Sarz Sanctuary, said: “Having first-hand experience of the impact terror incidents have on victims, their families and the emergency services, the establishment of Sarz Sanctuary by Mark and Julie is a force for good that will give those touched by traumatic grief newfound hope.

Sara Zelenak was working as an au pair when she died in the London Bridge attacks 

“With the skills I’ve developed working as a family liaison officer, I’ll be doing everything I can to help Sarz Sanctuary plan the first healing centre, from taking part in fundraising to setting out a strategy for the charity in the UK.”

Sara Zelenak with mum Julie Wallace
Family Collect

Islamist terrorists Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, launched their attack on the Saturday evening when they drove a van across London Bridge, then leapt out wearing fake suicide belts. They ran through Borough Market, stabbing and slashing at people drinking and dining at pubs, bars and restaurants, before being shot dead by police.

The other victims were Christine Archibald, 30, Xavier Thomas, 45, Alexandre Pigeard, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, James McMullan, 32, and Ignacio Echeverria, 39.

  • An appeal for funds to start Sarz Sanctuary in the UK is being run by the Chapel & York consultancy (chapel-yorkukfoundation.org /donate-to-sarz-sanctuary/)

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