Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I will be running the Loch Ness marathon in October alongside my Dad. In doing so I hope to raise sponsorship for the charity Beat, but most importantly, raise awareness of eating disorders and the devastating impact they can have on those suffering, and also on those trying to support a loved one with an eating disorder.
I feel eating disorders, along with many other mental illnesses, are still a very misunderstood subject, and one in which society is yet to fully accept. This in itself makes it harder for those suffering to ask for help and speak up.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate out of all mental illnesses, yet the treatment available in the UK is insufficeint. Unless you can afford to go private, there is not much in the way of long term support from professionals. If there was more information and awareness regarding eating disorders, it would perhaps be easier for loved ones to provide support and for everyone effected by an eating disorder to work together and ultimately help those in need beat their demons.
I spent 3 years living in denial that I had an eating disorder, before asking for help in July 2009. 2 years on and I still face a constant battle, not only against my eating disorder, but also with the depression that hit after having to accept and admit I had a problem.
I have chosen to run for Beat because I feel very strongly about their values and aims and the impact they will have on the fight to beat eating disorders.
Taken from the Beat website, their aims are:
by,
I would greatly appreciate any sponsorship, but it would be of even greater value if you could all take the time to check out the beat website and help remove the stigma surrounding eating disorders and mental illness.
Thankyou,
Louise xx
Also, for anyone interested, I am keeping a blog of my progress and challenges I am facing while training for this marathon, follow it here :- http://battlingthemilesandmind.blogspot.com/
