Celebrating Charlotte's Birthday
This week marks six months since Charlotte Bevan died. It doesn't seem that long, and it really isn't. A year ago I this week I was getting on a plane to go see her, and this was the week that we came up with the idea of Charlotte's Helix as a way to continue her legacy of work improving the world for those facing eating disorders. I came home with blue hair and a mission. I still have blue hair and many more have joined the mission!
This week is also the first birthday Charlotte will not have. In her spirit and on her behalf, I and others are committed to celebrating her birthday for her by supporting the Helix.
I'd like to tell Charlotte many things. I'd like to tell her that her dream came true and that the AN25K international project has been extended to the UK. She would want to know that thanks to the generosity of the volunteers, we are one quarter of our way to the initial goal of 1,000 samples. Charlotte would be glad to know that slowly but surely we are raising the necessary £100K to pay for the samples. Charlotte would join me in thanking the donors, the research participants, and the scientists who are making this happen.
We have collectively raised, in increments of a few pounds to $5000 at a time, about a quarter of what we need to reach our goal. Every dollar, pound, euro and yen are valuable to that total.
Last year, I gave away my birthday to Charlotte to show her my support and commitment. Many others joined me and she laughed and maybe even cried at the kind, joyful pledges. Let's celebrate Charlotte's birthday this year by doing what she hoped we would: come together over this project and have some fun doing it.
The wonderful Helix committee in the UK has just announced the "I choose to give" campaign on the Helix site.
How can you help:
This week is also the first birthday Charlotte will not have. In her spirit and on her behalf, I and others are committed to celebrating her birthday for her by supporting the Helix.I'd like to tell Charlotte many things. I'd like to tell her that her dream came true and that the AN25K international project has been extended to the UK. She would want to know that thanks to the generosity of the volunteers, we are one quarter of our way to the initial goal of 1,000 samples. Charlotte would be glad to know that slowly but surely we are raising the necessary £100K to pay for the samples. Charlotte would join me in thanking the donors, the research participants, and the scientists who are making this happen.
We have collectively raised, in increments of a few pounds to $5000 at a time, about a quarter of what we need to reach our goal. Every dollar, pound, euro and yen are valuable to that total.
Last year, I gave away my birthday to Charlotte to show her my support and commitment. Many others joined me and she laughed and maybe even cried at the kind, joyful pledges. Let's celebrate Charlotte's birthday this year by doing what she hoped we would: come together over this project and have some fun doing it.
The wonderful Helix committee in the UK has just announced the "I choose to give" campaign on the Helix site.
How can you help:
- Send a donation of any size to the Helix through Beat or F.E.A.S.T., our generous partners.
- The book Charlotte was working on with me in her past months has been republished in a new edition and the proceeds for those sales all goes to the Helix. We wrote the book to support parents and fund the Helix. Buy a book.
- Enroll in the study. If you are in the UK it is done through Kings College London. If you are in US, Australia, or Sweden, it is part of ANGI. All of these are part of AN25K, YAY CINDY BULIK.
- Learn about AN25K and spread the word
- Take a selfie of your "I choose to give" pledge and Tweet #AN25K, share on Facebook, Google+, your blog, Instagram, everywhere!
This project was important enough to Charlotte to make it her public legacy. It may change eating disorders forever.
I miss Charlotte. This is something I can DO about it. How about you?
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