As a man of 53 having run the marathon once before (25 years ago!) I could not have thought of much which would induce me to do all that training again. However over the past few years as a family we have been facing the challenge of eating disorders.

Having a child with an eating disorder is one of the most difficult things a family can face - eating disorders have the highest mortality rates out of all mental illnesses facing young people. Hearing that your child could die of this illness are words parents never want to hear.

I am running to support Beat due to the desperate need for support for individuals and families that they are providing. I wish we had found them much earlier in our journey as it was very lonely and difficult to tell people what we were all going through. We have now accessed specialist guidance and having this resource freely available is a lifeline for parents and young people alike and has helped us to understand what our daughter is experiencing.

Another reason for doing the Marathon is to raise awareness. Since we have started to share our story we have found a number of other families who are going or have been through similar experiences. If you are worried about yourself or a loved one, please do contact BEAT for advice and guidance as well as speaking to your GP. You are welcome to send us a private message too.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for your support, we would be so grateful for anything you could donate towards the target of £2500!

Rick, Beth and the kids

Beat is the UK's eating disorders charity. We exist to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. We are a champion, guide and friend to anyone affected, giving individuals experiencing an eating disorder and their loved ones a place where they feel listened to, supported and empowered.

We predict 1.25 million people are affected by these serious mental illnesses. Eating disorders can be deeply isolating for the people affected by them. Our online support groups and training for carers allow people to talk to others with similar experiences, helping them to feel less alone with their eating disorder. We run phone and email helplines for anyone who needs us. Often when people get in touch its the first time they've voiced their concerns about themselves or a loved one.