Recent NHS figures* show a huge rise in hospital admissions of people with eating disorders. Last year there were almost 28,400 admissions, up from 20,600 the year before the pandemic - a 38% increase. When looking just at children the figure stands at an 82% rise - from around 4,200 to 7,700.

The figures are terrifying, but the reality for real people and families across the UK is even more stark. People are dying and we at SEED need your help.

Meet Nikki Grahame and Chelsea Blue. Two brilliant young women who had so much to offer the world. But two women who were haunted by an eating disorder - the cruellest of diseases, which eventually claimed both their lives. They never met, but died a day apart in April 2021. Nikki was 38, Chelsea just 17.

Now, two years on, their legacies will help stop others suffering like they did.

As CEO of SEED Eating Disorder Support Services with a personal story that so nearly ended the way Nikki's, Chelsea's and so many others did, I've witnessed my parents devote 23 years of their life to helping others affected by eating disorders. Since co-founding SEED whilst I was on deaths door, they have worked tirelessly to help both those directly battling the illness, and the loved ones and carers too. Now I am carrying on my parents legacy as I strive to take SEED to the next stage and help more people who desperately rely on us.

Last year we lost our resource room and I have fought to find us a new home ever since. Myself and many others have fundraised with all our energy to help me make my dream become a reality and we now have a new resource room in Princes Quay in Hull, along with two therapy rooms for people with eating disorders, one called the Nikki Grahame room and the other Chelsea Blue.

Our resource room is there to provide a drop in support and listening service, facilitate our workshops, support groups, advice line and more. And of course, most importantly, provide free one to one therapy for those who need us.

We have had over 100 new referrals in the last two weeks since my BBC breakfast report aired, which whilst incredible that people are reaching out, we are also overwhelmed as a tiny team and are unable to have the resource room open for the hours in the week it deserves. This is why we need you. Help us raise vital funds so we can give more support to those who clearly desperately need us

Nikki always wanted to do the bridges of London walk but sadly never lived to do so. This 25km trek will be done with our fullest hearts.

Please donate if you can, as we stroll for SEED in memory of Nikki Grahame, Chelsea Blue and all those we have lost to the devastating mental health illness that is an eating disorder, and walk to raise money so that others can walk a positive path to recovery. If you'd like to join us on the walk you can set up your own page to link to this campaign and fundraise for us too or email fundraise@seed.charity to express your interest and be part of our campaign. We'd love your support and to have you by our side.

Much love,

Gem and Carly xx

*BBC Breakfast interview with Gemma, Carly and Steve (Chelsea's Dad) here -