Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My name is Alicia and I am raising money for Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity. Beat supports anyone who is affected by eating disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bullima, EDNOS or any other difficulties with food, weight and shape. 

In 2016, I faced the toughest battle of my life so far. I had been in denial for a while, but it wasn’t until one afternoon whilst I was having my second ECG of the week when the realisation struck me: it was time to get help. My heart rate had dropped to 33 BPM, heart palpitations had become the norm and I believed I could survive on a green tea a day alongside a alarmingly restrictive daily calorie intake...all whilst training professionally in Ballet for many hours a day. I had been suffering from an eating disorder for a fair amount of time, but this escalated suddenly, taking on a catalytic effect, dropping a vast amount of weight in just 3 weeks. 

I was so lifeless; even making my bed each morning was a struggle. I was in a bubble, a different world to everyone else around me, and it felt as though no one would be able to help me.
I believed ‘help’ had negative connotations and was merely there to make me fat. I thought I was ‘happy’ with the way I felt and looked, the thought of gaining weight was unbearable for me.

But, help is there to have a positive impact and recovery is possible.

And that’s why I am fundraising for beat.

Eating disorder awareness week is from 26th February to the 4th March. During this time, I will be wearing my brightest, boldest, silliest socks I can find in order to help Beat provide support, tackle barriers to desperately needed treatment, and challenge the stigma. On average, eating disorder sufferers face a wait of 3 and a half years for specialist treatment.
The area in which I live unfortunately has limited help and support to those suffering from eating disorders, however I am grateful to Beat for providing information and help in the form of support groups etc.

In addition to this, Beat provides training to help GPs and teachers spot the early signs and symptoms, and empowers them with the knowledge to support someone who is unwell.

Beat is a truly remarkable charity who fight for better treatment and care, and I hope by sharing my story with you, I can raise awareness and show that everyone needs and deserves help whenever they require it through life.

Any donation is gratefully received, and by wearing your brightest, boldest, silliest socks to work, school, uni or even out to coffee with your friend and using the hashtag #sockittoeatingdisorders you are helping to end the suffering of eating disorders and raise awareness of the early signs of an eating disorder.

The funds raised will help towards Beat’s services including the helplines, message boards and online support groups.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I can’t wait to see your super silly socks!

Alicia x