Abbie's Twogether Fundraiser

I used to believe that I was destined to suffer, that I was a hopeless case, with no possible chance of recovery from my eating disorder. I believed my fruitless attempts to get better were pointless, and I began to succumb to this perceived “fate”. I genuinely thought there was simply no life for me beyond the warped bubble anorexia had created for me. At that time, anorexia was my safety net – so I assumed I could never let go.

And then something changed my perspective completely, and that something was Beat. Beat made me recognise I wasn’t alone in my struggles; they helped me to view myself as more than a diagnostic label. They led me to recognise I was Abbie before I was consumed by anorexia, and I could be Abbie again if I dedicated myself to recovery. So, I did. I chose recovery, and every single morning I wake up and continue to make that same choice, and I will make that choice forever more. And for that, I largely have Beat to thank, as they ultimately helped me see a life beyond the dark and depressing walls my eating disorder had trapped me within for so long.

And this is the primary reason I fundraise for Beat; so, they can continue to do the extraordinary life-changing work they do every single day.

Fundraising in aid of Beat in the Twogether 2025 campaign has been an incredibly powerful and an indescribably rewarding experience. It is hard to put into words how emotionally fulfilling it is to be giving back to such a vital charity and knowing with confidence that the money raised is going to make a difference to so many people. Using my lived experience to make a difference is all I have ever wanted to do, and fundraising for Beat has allowed me to do this.

Whilst arranging my event was stressful at times, I had the incredible support of Beat offering me help and advice in any way possible. Just like Beat supported me through the rockiest parts of my eating disorder recovery, they supported me through the fundraising process. I never felt alone in the experience, as the frequent and encouraging correspondence from Beat staff cheering me on from the side-lines was like having my own personal cheerleader!

A very memorable aspect of my experience in the Twogether 2025 campaign was counting the money donated during my fundraiser. I remember tears forming in my eyes as I was suddenly overcome with emotion as the number just got higher and higher; all I could think of was how many people this was going to positively impact, and I just felt complete.

However, the most memorable moment was announcing the total money raised and hearing a continuous roar of applause that I thought was never going to stop. I think this might have been one of the proudest moments of my recovery so far. Even thinking of it now I have an uncontrollable smile on my face and a bursting feeling of pride in my stomach.

I would encourage anyone that feels ready to take the leap and start fundraising for Beat, to bite the bullet and do it. For me, I cannot extract a single negative from the experience. Find comfort in the knowledge that the support provided by Beat throughout the fundraising process is exceptional, meaning you will have team Beat on your side – always!

Beat saves lives. And by fundraising for Beat, you save lives too.

When I think of what I have achieved, I think of my terrified 16-year-old self, consumed by a disorder I convinced myself was a death sentence. Then I think of Beat, and all the people before me who have fundraised to keep this charity alive and support people just like me. Without Beat and all its supporters, me and so many others wouldn’t be here today, or perhaps we would be, albeit still in the encapsulating grip of our eating disorders living a miserable and unfulfilling existence. Beat helped me to thrive rather than just survive. They helped me find Abbie again.

If I had to sum up my experience in three words I would say “freeing”, “fulfilling”, and “exhilarating”. Therefore, if you are considering fundraising, I urge you to choose Beat.

You can make a difference, just like me.

If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, or are concerned for yourself or a loved one, you can find support and guidance on the help pages of our website.