As someone who is in recovery of Anorexia Nervosa, with lived experience, ‘BEAT’ is a charity close to mine, and many others hearts. In the UK, eating disorders affect around 1.25 million people but as a country, there is not enough funding to support the needs of these individuals. That’s where charity’s like ‘BEAT’ come into play. They provide the support that the system constantly fails to provide; both quickly and most importantly, for free. So, as a community, we all need to come together to fund help for these deadly illnesses.

I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at age 13, it impacted not only my home life but also my school life, i was constantly seen by other pupils as a “dramatic teenager”, but nobody knew what i was going through. So now, it’s time to start sharing my story and make people aware of this deadly illness. As part of the 1-2-5 challenge, i will be walking 25 miles in October 2025. I will be walking for those who can’t, and most importantly i will be walking for the 13 year old me who was forced onto bed rest.

I would also like to add a snippet of a story I wrote, called “Ana”.

“My mirror, once a source of confidence, transformed into a cruel judge, reflecting a distorted image that consumed my thoughts. Every meal became a battlefield, each bite a monstrous adversary i fought to avoid. My frame, once strong and vibrant, withered away, leaving a fragile shell of my former self.. Anas grip tightened, a relentless vice squeezing out my vitality, my world shrinking to the size of a dinner plate. It stole my joy, my health, and my sense of self, leaving behind a haunting emptiness where a lively spirit once thrived.”

- the whole story can be found on Facebook or TikTok at @hiddenhonesty.