Hi everyone, my name is Alex and me and my partner Bryony are walking the West Highland Way in June 2023 in order to fundraise for the Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Foundation. I have been diagnosed with this disorder for a while now and at times it can be debilitating for myself and massively impact those who love me.

Me and Bryony want to fundraise for the BDD Foundation as they are a registered charity who have personally helped me in my ongoing recovery. The recommended treatment for BDD is antidepressant medication combined with intensive CBT, however current waiting times in the UK to receive such psychological intervention can be lengthy. This is where the BDD Foundation becomes such an important charity as it helps individuals and families of those diagnosed with the disorder. The charity runs regular support groups, provides podcasts on things such as treatment options, coping strategies and recovery stories. They also provide in person retreat days for people to share their experiences and contribute to ongoing research into treatment options. It is therefore essential that this charity continues to be accessible for people suffering with BDD and their loved ones.

We hope to raise awareness of this hidden condition and be a voice for the many people out there who have yet to speak out about having intense preoccupations with appearance due to feeling ashamed. This is an under-diagnosed disorder worldwide with the UK having limited research, however the BDD Foundation suggests prevalence of about 2% of the UK population and the disorder equally discriminates against men and women.

Being outside in nature and walking helps both of us to manage the distressing and unwanted feelings caused by BDD. We are both fully aware that there are people diagnosed with severe BDD who are unable to leave the house and face the world. We aim to complete this walking challenge so that we can give these people hope that no matter how difficult things may seem, they can improve with the right help and support.

The West Highland Way is a 96 mile route in Scotland which we aim to complete in 6 days and on the 7^th day we will climb all 1345 metres of Ben Nevis (the tallest mountain in the UK)!

Any donation to our cause in support of the BDD foundation would be greatly appreciated, to donate please just click on the link. And to learn more about the disorder, you can find loads of information on the BDD foundation website.

Thank you x