Hi Everybody!

I've been lucky enough to be given a place in the Great North Run by Beat. 

I have to raise at least £300 and I know you guys are a generous bunch so I'm sure I'll smash that. Once I hit my target I'm also donating some of what I fund raise to Inspire Suffolk. 

I've written a bit about the amazing work of both these charities below...

The Charities

Beat 

Eating disorders affect 1.6 million people in the UK and 10% of those die due to the effects of the condition making it the deadliest mental disorder.

  Bulimia  is estimated to effect around 1 in 100, and Anorexia  1 in 250. I couldn't find exact figures for EDNOS (all the others) but its about the same as Anorexia and Bulimia combined.

Look at the number of Facebook friends you have. 

Chances are whether you realise it or not you know someone who has been affected.

Beat provide advice and support for suffers, as well as helping them access treatment in their local area. 

They work with the media and schools to help improve education on EDs and dispel the myths surrounding them, such as

-EDs only affect women  - a quarter of sufferers are male.

-You can tell if someone has an eating disorder by looking at them  - not all suffer dramatic weight loss, some will even gain weight. EDs do not discriminate and affect all ages and ethnic backgrounds. 

-It's just for attention - only 1 in 10 seek treatment and although reasons are complex, its highly likely that biological factors come into play. Many sufferers exhibit secretive behaviour and try to hide their condition, and find talking about it difficult. 

Inspire Suffolk

Inspire Suffolk (formerly the Ipswich Town Charitable Trust) will get a slice of the money once I've hit my target.

They are a locally based charity and work to improve the lives of people in Suffolk through Sport and Education. They have amazing programmes for children and those with additional needs. 

 They coach children in a number of sports including football and handball as well as working with the Princes' Trust to help get young people back into work. 

Inspire Suffolk are holding a number of events over the coming year so check out their website if you are in my area!

My Story

I'm not your average runner. I wasn't good at sport at school and I've never been particularly happy with my body image. As I got older I became extremely over weight and things didn't improve.

Then one summer I had enough signed up for Race for Life with a friend. The rest, they say is history.....

I found a confidence in sport that nothing else had given me. Running had me hooked. And although I have lost a large amount of weight (around 6 stone) my reason for training, running, for racing stopped being that a long time ago . 

#strongnotskinny