*Trigger warning for discussions of eating disorders and sexual violence*

The power of a fandom has shown us time and time again that it can achieve great things and we don’t just mean getting Ben through to the final of a Radio Times Soap Legends tournament. Our passion can be used to make a real difference, and the Ballum fandom in particular has shown this with previous fundraisers for Just Like Us and We Are Survivors (formerly Survivors Manchester.) With another powerful storyline comes another opportunity to channel our energy into something impactful.

This is why, with Ben’s bulimia story, we have decided to raise money for the UK’s leading eating disorder charity, Beat.

This isn’t a new story for Ben; it is a continuation that is rooted in character - and statistics. Many of the challenges rape survivors face place them at greater risk for developing an eating disorder (in fact, We Are Survivors has advice and resources about eating disorders on their website: https://www.wearesurvivors.org.uk/understanding-abuse/physical-health-issues/eating-disorder/).

Research shows that trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are significant risk factors for the development of an eating disorder, particularly in survivors of sexual violence, as restrictive behaviours around food/exercise may suppress difficult emotions and create a sense of control that has been previously cruelly taken from them (https://www.nsvrc.org/blogs/connection-between-eating-disorders-and-sexual-violence).

We applaud EastEnders for exploring the long-term impact of Ben’s sexual assault in such a realistic way, and for taking the opportunity to tackle an important issue (eating disorders in men) that has not previously been explored on the show.

Speaking about the show's commitment to showing how an eating disorder impacts a male character, Tom Quinn, Director of External Affairs at Beat, explains: "1 in 4 people with an eating disorder are men, but it's rare to see storylines that show how men are affected by these serious mental illnesses. At Beat, we welcome that EastEnders has chosen to highlight this important issue and we've been pleased to review scripts, to help ensure bulimia is represented in a sensitive and accurate way. We hope that Ben's story will help to raise awareness of the warning signs and encourage people to reach out for the support they need.”

"It was vital for us to work alongside Beat to accurately present, and sensitively portray Ben’s bulimia storyline. Max’s [Bowden] performance has thoughtfully portrayed the isolating reality of an eating disorder with compassion and understanding as we explore how the traumatic events of Ben’s past have affected his mental health." - EastEnders' Executive producer Chris Clenshaw

You can read Beat’s 22/23 impact report here which has more statistics as well as an overview of the work they do: https://express.adobe.com/page/8f5O04BA1XcYZ/

They also have information, advice and support available if you or someone you know is dealing with an eating disorder like Ben: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/

If you can spare a donation to this important cause, we can continue to show the power of fandom and our potential for making a difference, through the outlet of characters we love.

Jenn and Erin x