It’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and what better place to kick it off than the Mall of America? The mall was rocking with over 1,000 walkers joining the fight against eating disorders. The stage area was jam-packed and the intensity was high.
There were some Disney characters in attendance (although I highly doubt they were Disney-sanctioned; since several of them looked a bit frayed around the edges). In addition to several princesses, there was a very tall lanky version of Jack Sparrow, the efemminate pirate; Guzzy and several other young ladies took selfies with the Johnny Depp look-alike.
I had a quick flash-back to the first time I attended a Twin Cities NEDA walk. It was 3 days after my daughter, Guzzy, had been discharged from the Minneapolils Children’s hospital for life-saving treatment of her eating disorder. This was in September 2013, before the walk moved to February, to coincide with the start of Eating Disorder Awareness week. There were probably 150 of us huddled around a small stage for that walk, listening to a very technical (and exceptionally boring) speech by Guzzy’s psychiatrist. The registration was unorganized and the ‘walk’ consisted of wandering around the inside amusement park.
From humble beginnings, great things can (and do) emerge. I’m sure the organizers of that first walk had no idea that the Twin Cities walk would grow into the mega-event of last Sunday.
Standing in the Mall Sunday we found ourselves surrounded by an incredibly diverse crowd, many of whom were there to support a loved one: a child, a parent, a sister, a brother, a friend, a lover, a spouse; we all came together in a demonstration of support and caring.
One of the speakers, Matt, shared his experience of going on a ‘field trip’ with other teens from his residential treatment program who were wheel-chair bound. On the bus to the destination, a few of the teens were comparing notes about what they would tell people if/when asked why they were in wheelchairs. The plan was to tell people they had a heart condition– to avoid the stigma attached to having an eating disorder. Matt had an ephiphany; why SHOULD they lie about their disease? How can we begin to fight or destigmatize something if we cannot name it?
I admire Matt, Guzzy, Monica Seles, and the many others who are brave enough to NAME their illness and tell their stories; in hopes that others who may be suffering in the shadows, will find courage and hope in their words.
The 2017 Madison NEDA Walk will be on Saturday, September 16th. We haven’t set the program yet, but, maybe I can see if any of the Disney Princesses are available on that day.