Hi, my name is Laura and I’m raising money this year for Beat by joining in on the Glasgow Kiltwalk on the 28th of April 2024. I am participating in this walk to support Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity. Beat provides crucial support to individuals with eating disorders, their loved ones, and professionals involved in their care. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder affect 1.25 million people in the UK alone, cutting across all ages and backgrounds.

Beat is a charity that holds a special place in my heart. At the beginning of 2023, I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa after struggling for about six months prior to receiving a diagnosis. Unfortunately, public health services didn't offer me much help initially, which only made my condition worse. A year ago, I reached my lowest weight and was severely underweight. But it wasn't just weight that I lost. I lost myself entirely - my brain power, energy, life, and personality were all stripped away by the eating disorder.

Six months after my diagnosis, I finally sought out the help I deserved privately and embarked on my recovery journey. It was undoubtedly the most challenging period of my life but also the most transformative. Yes, I restored my weight during this process, but more importantly, I restored myself, my life and my personality.

Throughout this journey, Beat has been an invaluable source of support for me through their online resources. They not only provided guidance for me but also helped educate and support my family in understanding how they could best assist me. I am eternally grateful to them because without their support and the unwavering dedication of my family every step of the way, I wouldn't be here today sharing this story or raising awareness.

Eating disorders carry a significant amount of stigma due to being a largely unspoken topic. Many people are unaware of or don't fully comprehend their complexity. That's why it's essential for me to share my story - so we can work towards de-stigmatising eating disorders and educating more individuals to prevent them while providing support for those going through similar struggles.

Together we can make a difference!