Communication is essential, yet as a population we are so petrified of it all: scared of talking; scared of feeling; scared of allowing others to know our suffering. Wearing your heart on your sleeve takes guts. It requires vulnerability, bravery and courage. Though whilst it can lay bare our innermost thoughts for people to question or judge, it can also be highly therapeutic and integral to our growth, understanding and tolerance of others.

On 8th September, we will be taking part in a Walk & Talk in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to raise funds for Beat – the UK’s eating disorder charity. Granted, this is not a physically taxing event like a marathon or triathlon, as most Just Giving pages are. Rather, the Walk and Talk is more mentally challenging: it involves Eating Disorder sufferers and supporters – old and new – to collate together, share their stories, and help to fight stigma surrounding the discussion of mental health problems.  

As two ED fighters ourselves who have battled to overcome our struggles, we both understand how isolating eating disorders can be. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, affecting 1.25 million people across the UK (in fact, eating disorders have the highest mortality rates of any other mental health problems). With the average sufferer facing a 3.5 year wait for specialist treatment, Beat’s services and campaigns are vital in ensuring fewer people face their illnesses alone. We hope that by sharing our own stories next Saturday, we will be taking a step in the right direction towards breaking down barriers and combatting these horrifically debilitating illnesses. If you could support us in donating anything you have to give – even if it’s just £1 – please do so, in recognition and support of the excellent work that Beat does.