We are fundraising for Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity. Beat supports anyone with an eating disorder, their friends and family, as well as professionals working with or worried about an individual in their care.

These serious mental illnesses include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. 1.25 million people in the UK have a diagnosed eating disorder. They affect people of all ages and backgrounds, and up to one in four sufferers are male. Eating disorders cost the UK's economy £16.8 billion each year.

Anna’s story:

Trigger warning

Hi I’m Anna and I would like to tell you a little bit of my story.

I need to start at the beginning so that you understand the end.

In September 2020, following a blood test at school, I had a call from the hospital at 2 am on a Saturday morning insisting that I go to A&E.  The doctors told me that my potassium level was so low that my heart was in massive danger of stopping, they couldn’t understand how I was still walking and talking. By this point, my body was just too weak to carry on, and my organs were giving up. That night, my parents were told by my doctors that they needed to say goodbye to me as they didn't think that I would make it through the night – I was 16.

A very long and difficult admission to a hospital that specialised in severe eating disorders followed, where I met Chloe. I was so ill that I was under constant supervision and I was not allowed to leave the unit or even go outside.  I will spare you the details but it was a very dark and difficult time. I’ve never felt as lonely as I did Christmas morning 2020 knowing that all the other patients got to go home on Christmas Eve, but I didn’t. I woke up in hospital on Christmas Day 2 years in a row.  While that was, obviously, incredibly hard for me, imagine how hard that was for my parents, when they woke up on Christmas morning and only one of their children were home.

This admission to hospital was incredibly traumatic, one that I never want to live through again. I wouldn’t wish what happened in there on anyone, but unfortunately, there are still people today who are going through that same pain and trauma.

Anorexia took everything from me. It stripped me of my identity, my education, my laugh, everything that made me, me. I had to retake my chemistry A level 3 times before I was well enough to even get past the first month of learning. I’ve lost so many friends to this horrible illness. I still grieve the person I was before anorexia took over my life, but I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without help from BEAT after being put through trauma after trauma.

Fortunately, I was able to fight my illness. It was a long and immensely difficult process but, eventually, I was well enough to leave hospital.  Once I came home, everything felt so new and exciting, it was amazing. 3 continuous days at home was the longest I’d been there in over a year - I was so happy to be with my family again.  Recovery gave me my life back, my smile, and most importantly, my freedom. I now have an incredible support system with friends that I couldn’t imagine a life without. I will never let anorexia control my life again.

I still struggle with some things to this day, however, I’m proud to say I’ve been home for over 2 years, with the help of my incredible horse, Dream. He is the reason I’m still alive, I would have left Earth a long time ago if I didn’t have him fighting by my side. Dream saved my life, my little legend, my best friend. He’s always there to listen when I don’t feel able to talk to anyone else.  I don’t know what I’d do without him. Finding horses after going through hell was how I healed. It took a while, but they’re the reason I can finally talk about what happened to me, in the hope that I can help others.

When I was in hospital, I had an incredible support system. I had the nurses and health-care assistants to talk to when I was struggling. I had the other patients to make some light of a very dark time. Some of them I’m still very close with to this day and I see as my brothers and sisters, including Chloe.  

Unfortunately, my parents didn’t have that support. They did however have BEAT. BEAT helped them in ways you can’t even imagine. They showed them why I found everything so hard, they taught them how to be the best support system for me, they taught them how to manage my behaviours without making it worse, they provided a listening ear when they had no one else to talk to, they put my parents into contact with other people to talk to who were in a similar situation who understand their pain and what they are going through, and so SO much more. BEAT was my parents' support system when they had nothing else.  

All I want is for the families of people who are going through what we did to have that support. I fully understand that not everyone is in a position to donate, and that’s okay. But you are a hero for just sharing. I want everyone to be able to access the support they need, but that’s only possible thanks to charities like BEAT.

If you got this far, thank you for reading my story. That was something that was really difficult to share. As you can imagine, this is just a snippet of what I had to go through to be living my best life today. Look after your friends and family and, most importantly, yourself. If things are hard right now, know that it isn’t forever. I thought I’d be at rock bottom for the rest of my life, I didn’t see a way out, but I am out and living my best life. Better days are coming. My favourite quote at the moment is “don’t let this darkness fool you, all lights turned off can be turned on” and it is SO true. You’ve got this. DIFFICULT DOES NOT MEAN IMPOSSIBLE!

BECAUSE I REFUSE TO BE 1 IN 5 <3

Chloe’s story:

Trigger Warning

Hey, my names Chloe and I am 18. Me and my best friend Anna are doing a skydive for BEAT, an eating disorder charity that means a lot to us and is close to our hearts.

I've suffered from Anorexia Nervosa and multiple other mental health conditions since 2020, I was only 14 when I was diagnosed with my eating disorder. I have been through multiple hospital admissions, to inpatient specialist units' hours from home and general hospitals. Whilst in hospital I went through several traumas and without the support of the nurses and charities such as BEAT i wouldn't have been able to process them safely. Without the help of healthcare professionals and charities such as beat I wouldn't be where I am today, I've recently been discharged from eating disorder services and am thriving in life, however there are still days I struggle and feel so alone which is why we're raising awareness and helping other people to feel less like I did.

When I was inpatient my parents and siblings both accessed BEAT for support and various other charities where they helped them understand my illness. Whilst me and Anna were in hospital it was during covid meaning we could only see our families through a screen and with protected measures.

Anorexia took everything from me, my smile, my personality, my relationships, my life. But by choosing recovery I am slowly gaining everything back, for example my trust and freedom, my friendships and relationships and my life, the light is coming back to my eyes. My aim in doing this skydive is to raise awareness and help other people, no matter their age, gender or ethnicity and help others struggling feel less alone and be able to gain the right support for them and their families.

By doing this skydive and raising money and awareness for beat we hope to ensure no one is ever struggling alone and can gain support when needed. Thank you for reading a little bit of my story. Any donations or even sharing this page will have a tremendous impact on people struggling. You are never alone. Hold on pain ends.