Since before I was a teenager, I've been in and out of hospital for trauma related mental illnesses, as well as anorexia nervosa, OSFED, bulimia nervosa, body dysmorphia and orthorexia (I've really made my way around the block on collecting the eating disorder diagnoses hahaha). There are so many chunks of my life that I wasted neurotically weighing (and re-weighing) my cornflakes, my body, my mind. I've been from severely underweight to a healthy weight and back again more than once, I've binged and purged and starved and compulsively exercised until my hunger cues were non-existent and my body and mind were wracked with the physical damage that malnutrition wreaks.

It wasn't until last year (almost a decade into on and off treatment) that I decided I was tired of slowly killing myself, and I called BEAT, who patiently provided me with the resources I needed to get back into a treatment facility. 6 months later, I was well enough to go to university. A year later, I am weight-restored and have been given the all clear by a team of doctors to train for and run a speedy 10 kilometers. I used to have my walking privileges taken away on the regular. Biggest comeback of the mid 2010s? Maybe.

BEAT is the UK's largest leading charity supporting those with eating and feeding disorders. They run a helpline and online resources 365 days a year, and provide practical and emotional support to those inside and outside of medical care. They train parents, carers and professionals on how to best support the people in their care, and they teach people in schools and workplaces how to spot eating disorders in their early, preventable, curable stages. They lobby the NHS and the government to change policies and funding so that everyone (regardless of weight) can get well-funded, high-quality treatment that they deserve. They fund and support research into eating disorders. With 10% of anorexia nervosa patients and 6.5% of bulimia nervosa patients dying as a result of complications to their disease, there is absolutely no doubt that they are out here saving lives.

And despite the fact that there is no charity I could be more selfish in supporting with this run (let's be real, I've really milked their resources dry in the past few years), I really would love it if I was able to give back something to the people who have supported, and continue to support me on the regular. <3

big love, let's get this BREAD (because bread isn't going to make you fat)

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