ABOUT US

'Choosing to let go of my eating disorder has been one of the hardest yet best decisions I have ever made. When I was trapped within my eating disorder it felt as if there was no escape......But I started to see that being ‘strong’ and ‘in control’ wasn't about starving my body and over exercising, it was about looking anorexia in the face and saying back off!

We only have one life and I am determined to grab mine with both hands and live it too the full!
I no longer define myself as fat.

I no longer define myself as weak, useless or disgusting.

I am me and I am proud to say I am beautiful!'

- Extracts from articles by Becky Petley

My name is Becky and I am nearing the point of full recovery from anorexia. For me, the shocking truth of eating disorders isn’t just the high mortality rate or the increasing number of related hospital admissions. No, for me, one of the most shocking realities is the sheer number of people suffering from an eating disorder.

Some people manage to get a form of help, whilst others suffer in silence, either way many people feel as if they are trapped within the confines of their eating disorder and feel unable to regain the control that was stolen from them.

I have set up the 'Freedom to Fly' campaign with the idea that it will provide people with the hope that recovery is possible as I have personally experienced the very challenging but incredibly rewarding journey of letting go of my eating disorder and regaining my life, health and happiness.

I also hope to raise awareness of the increasing need for intensive treatment for eating disorders. I believe that 'Day Support Programmes' (where patients attend a centre that combines supported meals with therapeutic groups) are an effective way to deliver this treatment. Therefore I also hope to increase the funding for these programmes so that more programmes can be set up and existing ones can be expanded. With this in mind I am going to be doing a sponsored skydive to raise money for the 'Day Support Programme' at April House in Bitterne, Southampton. I attended this programme between November 2011 and September 2012. I cannot find the words to say how much this programme has helped me; its certainly no overstatement to say it changed my life. If you would like to sponsor me please visit the 'Sponsor' page and follow the instructions.
The final part of my campaign is to try break the 'taboo' that is attached to mental health illnesses and inform those who have little knowledge about eating disorders of the struggles faced by sufferers.

BECKY PETLEY

SKYDIVE

To raise money for April House 'Day Support Programme'.

Please visit the 'Sponsor page' to sponsor me!

TO PROMOTE RECOVERY

To give people hope that recovery is possible and highlight the freedom gained from letting go of an eating disorder.

To encourage eating disorder sufferer's to start the difficult journey towards recovery.

PROJECTS

RAISING AWARENESS FOR DAY SUPPORT PROGRAMMES

To raise awareness and funds for 'Day Support Programmes' (where clients attend a centre that combines supported meals with therapeutic groups).

A story was published in the daily echo about my experience of Anorexia and my campaign.

You can read the article by following the link below:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10064259.Teenager_s_battle_with_anorexia/

I was on BBC South Today at the end of November, speaking about my experience of Day Support Programmes and eating disorder recovery. There was also an interview with a clinical psychologist who works at April House, as well as with my mum and sister.

I participated in a feature called ' A Place in Time' on the Julian Clegg breakfast show on BBC radio solent. I was interviewed about my campaign and also discussed my own experience. In addition my very brave mum provided some insight as to what it was like from a parents perspective, to have a daughter with an eating disorder.