In 2021 our 12 year daughter was diagnosed with anorexia. We were urgently referred to CAMHS by a brilliant junior doctor at our local surgery. As her weight was dropping so rapidly, she was immediately admitted into hospital. After one week we were discharged.

A friend recommended https://www.feast-ed.org/. They are a not-for-profit international organisation for parents and carers of those with eating disorders. Their 30 day programme of daily lessons was literally a lifesaver and got me through the darkest days of despair when often we seemed to go backwards and not forwards and all we could do was put one foot in front of the other.

Without F.E.A.S.T and my running, I am not sure I would have had the mental strength to battle the demon. In the end I had the self-belief that our family were collectively far stronger than anorexia and we would conquer it. 3 years on we now have a happy daughter who loves food again and is doing normal teenage things like bickering with her brother.

On 6 May I am running my first marathon. Although I have run multiple halfs I am apprehensive. I am hoping the resilience I have developed through our life experience will get me through it. I would like to use the opportunity to raise money for Feast-ed (stands for Families Empowered And Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders) so they can continue to provide support and education for others in need.

Feast-ed don't appear to be on JustGiving so I will pass any of your kind donations directly to them.