DAVID Neve said it was ‘personal experience’ that led him to support the eating disorder charity Beat during his year in office, as he revealed £20,000 had been raised for the cause.
As his term draws to a close, the Mayor and his wife Mayoress Jill Neve thanked those who have supported their campaign yesterday and spoke of why it had been their charity of choice.
“With personal experience of how eating disorders can affect those nearest to you, it was important for me to choose Beat, who help people with these mental illnesses, as my charity of the year” said Cllr Neve.
He added: “I have been overwhelmed by the support from people in the local area. There are too many to list but my heartfelt thanks go out to all the volunteers and companies who have supported this fundraising campaign.
“I know personally what the addition of a support group will mean to those suffering with an eating disorder in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas and I’m very proud of what we have achieved already this year.”
The money will be invested to increase support for sufferers and raise awareness of eating disorders in the local area, with plans to create a new support group and recruit Beat Ambassadors – individuals with personal experience of an eating disorder to leave a legacy in the community.
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses affecting at least 725,000 people in the UK.
Michela Lodovichi, Regional Officer at Beat said, “We’re so grateful to the Mayor for selecting Beat as his charity of the year. Thank you to the volunteers, companies and fundraisers in and around Tunbridge Wells who have helped raise this money.
“We will make sure the funds raised by the Mayor will be invested in projects which will make a real positive impact to those affected by eating disorders in the area.”
