This September, I will be running my first ever Great North Run (and half marathon..) for Beat, the UK’s leading eating disorder charity. 

Beat carry out life changing work to support those suffering from any form of eating disorder, alongside supporting the families and friends of those suffering too, ensuring they can aid their loved ones recovery in the best possible way whilst also looking after themselves. There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding eating disorders - most often stereotypes based on appearance, gender and age. The reality is an eating disorder is a mental illness that can affect any person of any background, and there are more than just one type too.

Without Beat’s amazing work, so many people would suffer alone because of the lack of funding this area is given. Very few sufferers are ever given access to the NHS’s treatment services, I was denied this myself when I so desperately needed it. Beat are there to help everyone who needs it and continue to push for health experts in this country to receive better training in this area. No one deserves to battle an eating disorder alone, so I want to raise as much as possible to support this amazing charity’s work in hope this stops people suffering in silence.

Anyone who knows me knows running was my life until my eating disorder took it away from me. A few years ago I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, and certainly never thought I’d be stable enough to run a half marathon. This means so much to me, and any donations are hugely appreciated.

Charlotte x