We are fundraising for Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity. Beat supports anyone with an eating disorder, their friends and family, as well as professionals working with or worried about an individual in their care. These serious mental illnesses include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. 725,000 people in the UK have a diagnosed eating disorder. They affect people of all ages and backgrounds, and up to one in four sufferers are male. Eating disorders cost the UK's economy £16.8 billion each year.

After a three year battle with an eating disorder myself I wanted to give something back to the charity that kept me alive and on the right track because I certainly wouldn't be where I am today without them.

The date of the Great North Run marks the 6th year that I have been in recovery of my eating disorder, which I've never really talked about before. Me and Tom decided to mark this anniversary with something positive, and a continuing step in the right direction for my health (despite the fact that we both can't really run that far at all - wish us luck!).

Eating disorders are such a silent disorder and it's time we gave them a voice!