Hi all, I am running the London marathon in April this year for a charity very close to my heart - Beat.

Beat is the UK's leading eating disorder charity. Their mission is to ease the pain and suffering caused by these conditions and provide life-saving support to as many people as possible.

 I have chosen to run for Beat because, as many of you know, my lovely sister Rosie, suffered from anorexia in her teenage years and spent 8 months in a specialist hospital. Here she was able to get the necessary support to recover and become the person she is today. The support she received changed not only her life but my family’s too as we were able to get our amazing girl back.

 Unfortunately, so many other people and families affected by eating disorders don’t receive the same support. Since the pandemic especially, there has been a steep rise in the number of people suffering. This combined with a lack of adequate mental health care funding in the NHS means that many people can’t access the vital help they need, before it’s too late. Tragically, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and the lowest recovery rate of just 20%. 

It is predicted that 1.25 million people are affected by these serious mental health conditions. Eating disorders can be deeply isolating for the people affected by them. Beat’s online support groups and training for families and carers allow people to talk to others with similar experiences, helping them to feel less alone with their eating disorder. They run phone and email helplines 365 days a year for anyone who needs them. Often when people get in touch it’s the first time they've voiced their concerns about themselves or a loved one.

Every donation helps Beat keep their crucial services going and continue to raise awareness about this often under-prioritised and stigmatised issue. Thank you so much for your support, I’d be really grateful for anything you can contribute.