NEDA Walk at Central Park to fight eating disorders

The National Eating Disorders Association works to provide support and resources for people struggling with anorexia, bulimia and similar disorders, as well as their friends and family members.

The effort continues locally with the annual Birmingham NEDA Walk, which raises awareness and funds to support the fight against eating disorders.

The walk will be held at Homewood Central Park, Sunday, September 30. Check-in time is 2 p.m., with opening ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. The walk will end by 4 p.m.

Several treatment centers will be on-site to provide information and speakers will share their personal stories of recovery, according to event spokesperson Allison Burnett. The walk allows people to celebrate recovery and learn more about eating disorders. 

“It is a time to meet people who may be going through the same thing you are going through,” Burnett said. “We want people to leave with the message, ‘you are not alone, there is hope, recovery is possible.’”

The event also features games and prizes.

The 2017 walk drew 150 participants and raised more than $10,000, and the goal this year is to raise at least $15,000, according to Burnett.

There’s no registration fee this year, but fundraising is encouraged by all participants, and businesses can serve as sponsors, Burnett said. Fundraising matters because there’s little government funding for research, prevention and education regarding eating disorders, according to Burnett.

For details, go to nedawalk.org/birmingham2018.