6 years ago my beautiful, wonderful, kind, caring, fun and complex sister Georgia lost her life after a long struggle with an eating disorder and other such related problems. I was extremely close to my sister, sharing  the same group of friends and spending most of our time together. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and what I could have done differently. I must be honest with myself when I say I didn’t support her in the right way, especially in the early days. I very much thought it was a case of just eat more but how wrong and ignorant I was. 

Most eating disorders in girls start during their teenage years, however with my sister it started when she was well into her 20’s. Mental health, especially eating disorders are extremely underfunded and unfortunately we are living in times when they are becoming increasingly prevalent. 

Eating disorders effect not just the patient but for those around them it is heartbreaking to see the one they love suffer so greatly. The positive thing is that with more much needed funds, charities like BEAT can help save patients lives and can help the support networks around people with eating disorders so that the worst doesn't happen.

I have often thought that I haven’t done enough to raise awareness as to how complex the mind of someone with an eating disorder is.  With this in mind,  I am going to raise money and BEAT a three part cycling challenge:

The first challenge is a very gruelling 109 mile bike ride completely around Lake Geneva.

The second is a ride from London to Brighton covering 54 miles from the hustle and bustle of Clapham Common to seaside of Brighton beach, riding over the rolling Sussex hills. 

The third is the Prudential Ride 100. This is a professional cycle race some of the world most elite cyclists take part in. The ride will take in some of the steepest hills in the south of England, finishing in the Mall.

Thank you all for your support.