I am 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.

Sian spent most of her childhood and early teen years suffering from Anorexia. In 2013, she was hospitalised and spent 8 months in Galaxy House, in Manchester.

Eating disorders are so much more common than most people think and yet are so underfunded and often go unrecognised until they have really taken a hold. Galaxy House is not a specialised unit, it's a unit for children with all types of mental health illnesses, and whilst they did their best by Sian, people with eating disorders need specialist support. Galaxy House was the nearest centre to home and yet it's a 70mile round trip. This meant hours of our time every week was spent up and down the motorway, just so we could see her. There should be help for people with eating disorders closer to home, especially for children who are separated from their families for prolonged periods.

It's been just over 10 years since Sian decided to change her life and get a grip of her illness and we're so proud of how far she's come.

Running has become a huge part of Sian's life and I have fairly recently found a love for it too.

So, this year, Sian is running Manchester Marathon in April and I am running Manchester Half Marathon in May and we would be delighted if you could spare a little bit to help raise some funds for a much needing charity!