Well I can’t quite believe it I actually managed to go a whole month having no Will *faints*... And it may sound pathetic, but it really was one of the toughest months of my life. I remember only being a few days in to February and a friend saying to me “We want Lucy back!!!” to which I replied “I’ll be back next month” my usual bubbly self was replaced my someone who seemed like a stranger, particularly in the first couple of weeks of February, I was rather irritable and unhappy...

Giving him up, it was only expected I would experience the ‘withdrawal symptoms’...especially at first. I honestly was getting some horrible headaches, and was having sleep problems where I wouldn’t get to sleep until the early hours of the morning and then would wake up several time in the night. And then there was the comfort eating. Now I’m quite a healthy eater, but I found myself binging on junk food quite a lot, particularly chocolate which I suppose might have been to do with the endorphins found in it. Oh and I also remember feeling extremely down a few times, for example in the middle of the afternoon I would go to my room and draw my curtains, climb into my covers and pull the covers over my head. Oh dear that sounds like a sob story doesn’t it...

I won’t bore you all with all the details on all the hard things which giving up Will entails for a big fan, (eg. Not being able to go on the Will forums, not being allowed to talk about him at all, having no merchandise for the month...blah, blah, blah). Nevertheless not being allowed to listen to Will’s music was by far the hardest part of it. It made me feel sooooo empty not being able to listen to his phenomenal voice I listen to Will’s music every day...William’s music really is my ‘therapy’ and his music brings me so much happiness, so not being able to resort to his music as a way to escape and relax was horrible. I mean my other favourite artists Simply Red, Beverley Knight, Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin are all truly amazing, but to be they aren't quite in the same league in my opinion. It did however, give me an opportunity as well to listen to other singers which I wouldn’t usually listen to and would never describe as ‘me’. For example artists like: Dizzee Rascel, N- Dubz, Florence and the Machines...well I actually ended up really liking there music and appreciating it for what it is. Also it was cool (and I don’t class this as cheating) as I listened to loads of the original versions of covers Will had sung, which I really enjoyed.

But I must say by the end of the month I was learning to live without him, whether that was because I got used to this new way of life or that the fact that I knew the end was nigh... But to be honest I think it was the thought of what the money was going towards which helped me to last the month. The Mood Foundation seriously improves people’s lives that are suffering with depression, addiction, self harm. I always wish there was more I could do to help people out there suffering from the illness. Nobody deserves to have depression. 

I will just say thank goodness I didn’t give up Rupert too, that would have been impossible...it really might have killed me...lol...

I’m very proud to have done I managed the month and raise the money, it took a lot of determination, but it was worth it!!! A huge thank you everybody’s support :D

Lucy Formby

xxx

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I have decided to raise money for the charity 'The Mood Foundation', by giving up my obsession, devotion, dedication, adoration (or whatever you want to call it) of William Robert Young for a whole month :O ...in February 2010....eeeek!!!!!

Ok so if you aren't a relative, a friend or another huge fan of Will's, I doubt you will understand and appreciate how truly difficult this will be for me!!!!!!! I have been a 'hardcore' fan of William's for 8 years (since he first appeared on Pop Idol) I totally adoooore the man and his music - and he really is a big part of my life - so to say I am 'nervous' about doing this is certainly an understatement...

The reason I'm doing this is because The Mood Foundation is an amazing charity, which helps with treatment for depression, self harm and drug addictions. After learning about Rupert Young's story and his own battle with depression, self harm and an addiction to alcohol and knowing other family members and friends with similar problems, and that there are other people out there still suffering...it made me really want to help the cause. Furthermore Rupert is currently suffering with a relapse of depression, so this is just an extra incentive for me to raise some money. Anyway I was wondering what the biggest challenge for me would be...and then it struck me...it would be extremely difficult to stop being a Will Young fan. And to give him up...even for a little while...well I'm certain I could raise a whole lot of money for doing so!!!!!!

The term 'giving him up' includes all the Will posters/pictures in my room vanishing, my friends kidnapping my CDs, DVDs, books, t-shirts and all the other merchandise, no buying any concert tickets if any come on sale in February, no visiting or posting about Will on his forums, no posts on facebook  or twitter which include Will, if he is on tv, radio or in the press no watching, listening or reading, and no talking about Will :-( and, in a nutshell, just generally avoiding the subject altogether.It is going to be a very difficult month for me......It will be tortue!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a few of my friends say...

"I cannot wait to see Lucy after a month's deprivation of Will! Should be very... entertaining..."

"This is going to be veeery challenging....... all the money raised is going to a great cause and the success will be interesting as lucy has never done anything like it :)"

"Ha! Lucy giving up Will Young for one month???? I don't believe it! It will definitely be something worth seeing for four whole weeks! "

"Yaaaaaaaaaay! does this mean shes going to be quiet for a month? She hasn't got anything else to talk about. ;-)"

"This. Will. Never. Happen. It. Is. Not. Humanly. Possible. But it would be funny to see her try... :-P"

"The fact that Lucy is even considering giving up Will, for a month, shows her dedication to Rupert Young and his charity! She will need the help of the mood foundation after this month cause she WILL have depression ;-)."

"She has been a fan for years and years...never known her whilst she hasn't been a fan...well I think she is going to have to change her whole lifestyle"

"Reeeeeally? No way!!! She won't even last a day"

"Haha, Yeah right :), its gonna kill her"

:O :O :O erm, well, thanks guys for your thoughts...

Please donate. Any amount of money is appreciated either offline or here on justgiving. Any money raised will go towards people who are unable to afford the extremely expensive therapy, as the charity pays for the private, talking and alternative therapies needed for someone to truly conquer depression. Please visit their website www.moodfoundation.com to find out more about the charity...

Thank you very much :-)

Lucy

xxxxx