Coronavirus, lockdowns and quarantines have shone a light once again on mental health, something we should always be talking about, but this spotlight doesn't seem to have fallen on eating disorders in the same way. This is a huge range of mental illnesses that have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses and have been made so much more difficult by the times we are living in. 

It's estimated that up to 4 million people in the UK are affected by eating disorders, that's 1 in every 20 people.

Recovery from any eating disorder is a slow, difficult and painful process. So to help support the UK eating disorder charity Beat in their fantastic work, I'm "going bald for Beat" through my own slow, difficult and painful process by having a back, sack and crack wax!

I never really knew anything about eating disorders until I fell in love with a wonderful woman who I'm now lucky enough to be engaged to. Charlotte has been suffering with anorexia in one form or another since she was 10 years old. As the pressures of her life squeezed her more and more Charlotte restricted more and more until her body couldn't go any further. Between 2009 and 2013 Charlotte had four separate admissions to an eating disorder unit, but even there she couldn't find the help she needed and the treatment made her feel isolated and guilty, making her condition worse. In 2014 she was admitted to general hospital and her family told to say their goodbyes. At the point when she gave up, she reached out through the internet to friends and family, like I'm doing to you now, and the outpouring of love gave her the strength to carry on. 

She'd spent so long thinking she was unlovable, a failure and a burden to those around her and that the world would be better of without her. These are thoughts that are common for everyone with eating disorders, and what drive the process of slow suicide. 

Charlotte is now recovering, and though the physical symptom of her anorexia may not be the focus, every day is a mental battle where the smallest things like going shopping or meeting with friends can become a massive hurdle to climb, and feeling guilty for being who you are is still a daily thought. 

Help is out there for Charlotte and people like her. Beat is the UK’s leading eating disorder charity. Their mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. Beat have a helpline available 365 days a year, give friends and family of those suffering the skills to support those they love and campaign to increase knowledge and get better funding for treatment. 

Please help them continue their amazing work by sponsoring my little bit of suffering by donating anything you can and share this page across all your socials. Then get a drink and join us on 31st October when we will hopefully by live-streaming my waxing! (Video from the neck up only!)

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.