There is never a good time to ask people to give money. The run-up to Christmas is arguably the worst time of all.

There is never a good time to ask people to give money. The run-up to Christmas is arguably the worst time of all.

So it was something of a risk to launch Kerri's Campaign in November, with a target of raising £10,000 by Christmas Day to kit out a new Leeway domestic violence safe house.

MORE: 'I could cry': Mum's pride as campaign in memory of murdered Kerri McAuley reaches targetIf there was ever any doubt, it was clearly misplaced. For today we celebrate reaching - and passing - the target right on schedule.

The celebrations are heartfelt for the family and friends of Kerri McAuley, who was beaten to death by her brutal ex-boyfriend after a series of previous attacks.

Like us, they welcome how the money will provide a safe refuge for others like Kerri, potentially saving them from tragedy and giving them a chance to live a life free of fear.

But the celebrations are also, naturally, tinged with pain and sadness. Kerri should still be here: a mum to her children, a daughter to her heartbroken mum and a fun-loving friend.

Christmas is a particularly testing time, so we hope that the success of Kerri's Campaign provides a little light in the darkness.

The next challenge for Kerri's mum Lesley is to lobby for law changes that allow brutes like Joe Storey to repeatedly offend.

It will be a tough challenge. But we hope that, while Kerri's Campaign is providing a refuge, Lesley's determination is making such facilities far less necessary.