How and Why I’m Supporting NEDA This Year

NEDA Awareness Campaign 

I hate to admit it, I really do, but I’m one of those people who really loves to support philanthropic efforts, but then allows… life… to get in the way. It’s not that I don’t support the cause or the mission. It’s not that I think I have more important things to do. It’s not that I’m lazy or uninterested. I just get busy. And Saturday mornings feel like such a good time to sleep in. And I’m really trying to save for a new car. And… a hundred other things. Can you relate?

I’m hoping for my sake there are some nods going on out there. 

The fact is, the pace of life often doesn’t make supporting an important cause as easy as it seems it should be. But when something’s important, like really important, it’s time to get moving. At least that’s what I’m telling myself as I lace up my walking shoes and heading the 2012 Chicago NEDA Walk in just a few short weeks.

See, NEDA is an organization that I admire. And I want to help them continue to do the amazing work that they do tirelessly. At it’s core, NEDA’s mission is to support individuals and families affected by eating disorders. They do this through efforts around prevention, improved access to quality treatment, and increased research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders. I find myself on their website regularly, pulling information for parents of my patients, referring to toolkits they’ve put together, checking out the location of next year’s conference, and learning what issues are being lobbied in Washington.

And since NEDA does so much for my field, asking so little in return, I figure it’s my responsibility (maybe honor) to help advance the work that they do.

NEDA Walks started a few years ago as a way to unite communities around the awareness of eating disorders while fundraising for NEDA’s amazing programs. The walks are fun, family-friendly, and non-competitive. What’s most amazing, though, is the sense of power that can be created when people come together to stand up against life-threatening illnesses.

There’s so much work left to be done, and I know that organizations like NEDA can’t do it alone. We need improved and more widespread prevention efforts. We need more funding for research to understand these disorders better. We need more resources for people struggling and those who care about them. We need more advocacy so that eating disorders are given the acknowledgement they deserve by politicians, laypeople, and insurance companies.

If you or someone you know has been affected by an eating disorder (and chances are, that’s true), then join me in supporting this amazing organization. Check out the NEDA website to learn how you can join or create a walk in your town, or feel free to contact me if you’d like support me in my efforts!