In March I will be running the Reading Half (or at least attempting to..) with my Dad and we would be grateful for sponsorship towards charity that is important to us.

A year ago even thinking of running a 13.1 miles was an impossibility. In November 2023, I was diagnosed with a form of Anorexia, known as Atypical Anorexia (AAN). AAN is a condition which shares all the same features as Anorexia Nervosa with the exception of a BMI >17.5. Despite being taken seriously by my GP and quickly offered treatment with a moderate to severe eating disorder unit at St Ann’s Hospital, the diagnosis and my feeling that I didn’t ’deserve help’ at that weight, triggered a worsening of the disorder and I continued to rapidly decline until I was underweight and very physically/mentally unhealthy.

I was lucky that I had a support system of friends and family, and on going support from St Ann’s and my GP who all understood how serious my disorder was, even when I couldn’t. They continue to support all the ups and downs of recovery.

Sadly the reality is that not everyone is so lucky. Stigma surrounding eating disorders, deeply embedded societal acceptance of some ED behaviours and lack of funding means that many people do not have access to the eating disorder support they need. Even with support, recovering from anorexia was, and is, the hardest thing I have done. Without the support I received, I am not sure I could have reached the place that I am at now.

Beat is a charity that continues to provide support to people who need it and campaign for better services for eating disorder sufferers.

Further info on beat:

Beat is the UK's eating disorder charity. Our purpose is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. We do this by working directly with sufferers and their families, and by using that experience to highlight the challenges they face and campaign for change.

Our vision is a society where people with eating disorders experience care and understanding, and where they can quickly access treatment that supports a rapid and sustained recovery.