Funds For Wandi Nerida Eating Disorder Programme
Donation protected
My name is Laura & I’m 33 years old. I will try & keep my story as short as possible whilst still including the important parts I have struggled with Anorexia Nervosa for over 17 years. I have had periods of weight restoration & recovery physically but have still always had the underlying mental struggles behind my illness that haven’t been resolved.
There are many things in life people don’t really understand & mental illness is one of them. Eating disorders especially leave others asking questions like “why can’t they just eat?”, “how can they think they are overweight?” & the stigma that its just a “silly little girls disease for attention” still remains even today. The statistics show that 40% of sufferers live with their disorder, 40% of sufferers fully recover & 20% of sufferers die!
For over 17 years I have really tried to be one of those people who “fully recover” from their eating disorder! I have sort out the help of psychologists, psychiatrists, dieticians, mental health workers/nurses, support groups, outpatient programmes, inpatient treatment at Flinders Hospital (x8 times) & been admitted to the local hospital where I had to be tube fed to get some much needed nutrients.
Unfortunately, there’s not many resources for eating disorder sufferers, especially here in SA This has been the case for many years & despite some funding going into SA mental health in general, it’s not directed towards eating disorder treatment.
About 2 years ago, a brand new eating disorder treatment facility opened in Queensland called Wandi Nerida. It’s the only residential facility dedicated solely to eating disorder recovery in the WHOLE of Australia. The treatment programme is completely different to what I have experienced before & I feel I would benefit greatly from being accepted into the facility.
(I will add the link to the Wandi Nerida website & also the online YouTube tour link below so feel free to check it out )
However, as with most things in life, there is a cost involved to attend Wandi Nerida. It’s $73,000! Although I would be applying for a bursary & private insurance can also cover some of the cost, it doesn’t cover it all I am not one to usually ask for funding from anybody as I totally understand money is very scarce these days, I am desperate for some help with my disorder & to try a treatment I have never tried before. I am also very sensitive to the fact that if I get funding from some very kind & generous people, that the programme may not work for me or I don’t get accepted for some reason. I don’t want people thinking I’m greedy or just taking their money, that’s the last thing I would do
At the moment, I have applied for the facility but there is a minimum BMI restriction to be accepted. I am below that BMI but I am still working hard in treatment here in SA to get to the acceptable BMI so I can start the Wandi Nerida programme
All in all, I just really want another chance to live a happy & healthy life WITHOUT this devil of an eating disorder that’s been clouding my life for years! I sincerely hope I am given the blessed chance to attend Wandi Nerida & recover once & for all! Any help you can give me would truly be appreciated ❤️❤️❤️ & of course if you have any questions please feel free to ask me Much love to you all x
Organizer
Laura Crook
Organizer
Andrews Farm, SA