So… I’m shaving my head! Am I having a Brittney moment? Maybe. But I’m also doing it to raise funds for the Butterfly Foundation. 

Butterfly Foundation is the national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them.

If you’ve followed me for a while or ever spoken to me, you’ll know that I’m in eating disorder recovery. I’ve had an ED for 12 years and have been in and out of recovery for the last 4. I say in and out of recovery because recovery is hard, and part of the reason for that is the lack of treatment options available outside of the private health system.

A 2014 report by the Butterfly Foundation indicates that it can cost more than $100000 to appropriately treat a person with Anorexia.

Unfortunately for me and many other Australian’s, that cost is far too high. As a result we end up in the public health system, where treatment is not long enough and focuses primarily on physical health only, which is unlikely to follow through to sustainable recovery.

Given that the number of people in Australia with an Eating Disorder at any given time is estimated to be 1 million (approximately 4% of the population) and then when combined with Disordered Eating, that number jumps to an estimated 16.3% of the population, I’d say something needs to change.

I know my own family, and even some of my clients and their families, have accessed the support services of the Butterfly Foundation in the past. So I couldn’t think of a more worthwhile and relevant cause to donate to. I got into personal training because I wanted to help people. Specifically, because I wanted to help people avoid going through what I have gone through for the past 12 years.

So on February 23rd, I’m shaving my head. And my hope is that I can raise some money for something that I care about in the process.

And don’t worry, I’ll still dye my peach fuzz pink.