LIllington youngsters raising money for eating disorder charity

North Leamington School pupils and triplets Lydia and Simon Brown, both 14, are riding 60 miles along the Grand Union Canal from their Valley Road home in Lillington to Birmingham and back to raise money for the eating disorder charity beat.

This will be the second time the pair have taken on the challenge, having raised £190 last year, and they have already collected more than £200 in donations.

Lydia said: “People in my family have suffered from eating disorders and I realise it’s not something many people are aware of.

“It’s a really important cause because eating disorders affect whole families not just those who have them.

“We’ve only practised for the ride a few times but we’re just going to go for it.”

The teenagers will be setting off on Thursday April 21 and the ride should take them about eight hours.

Simon said he was happy to go along for the ride and to support his sister.

People can make donations on the pair’s www.justgiving.com/bikingforbeat web page.

Eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia, are serious mental illnesses affecting 1.6 million people in the UK.

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of age, sex, cultural or racial background, although the people most likely to be affected tend to be young women, particularly between the ages of 12 and 25.

But it is not unusual for middle-aged people to develop an eating disorder.

Beat provides helplines for adults and young people, online support and a UK-wide network of self-help groups to help people overcome their eating disorder.