Alice's Northern Lights Trek

I first considered doing the Northern Lights trek to raise money for Beat when my sister sent me a message asking if I’d be up for it.

I struggled with an eating disorder for many years and during that time my sister was a huge source of support to me and so it felt like this would be an opportunity to celebrate all we had overcome together as well as raising money to help other people struggling.

The team at Beat (and Ed in particular) were a brilliant support whilst I was fundraising and provided lots of tips as well and general encouragement to keep going.

There were seven of us raising money for Beat doing the trek and it was a real privilege to meet the other people, hear about their experiences and be inspired by all they had achieved.

My friends, family and colleagues were all very generous in their support. Most people know someone who has been affected by disordered eating, even if not directly, and many had seen my life change in recovery and with the help of Beat’s services.

The highlights of the trek for me were the community of support I experienced, both from Beat and those supporting the charity, and the wider group as we tackled the challenge, experiencing Iceland as a unique country with extreme weather and the joy of being in nature (even if it was a snow blizzard!), and taking time to celebrate all that recovery has given me and thanking everyone who has helped me along the way.

I would encourage anyone thinking about doing something like this to go for it. You are not doing it alone and I know I will always treasure this experience, even more so because the money we raised will go on to help others escape the misery of living with an eating disorder.

Want to take on a challenge like Alice's Northern Lights Trek? Take a look at what you can apply for here: Runs, Treks & Challenges