The Sunshine Coast has many leading national and international businesses. We are good at many things and have world-class talent. We also have some of the most beautiful, humble people who are determined to make a difference in this world – some of them simply leave me in awe of what they are trying to achieve.
Mark and Gayle Forbes and Millie Thomas are three of those amazing people.
Millie is an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach and knows firsthand what her clients are going through having previously suffered Anorexia for 15 years before conquering the disease two years ago.
If there were more hours in the day she would have more clients, such is the demand for her services.
Mark Forbes understands this only too well. He has two direct family members who suffer bulimia. One is managing the condition and the other fights this insidious disease daily. He says he has “spent hundreds of thousands of dollars seeking help and treatment over the years”.
What is astonishing is that there is no dedicated live-in facility in Australia that specifically treats eating disorders. Families are often forced to seek help overseas and according to the New York Times, “A residential program costs $30,000 (AU $38,632) a month on average. And many patients require three or more months of treatment, often at a facility far from home”.
Mark and Millie are working together to make a difference for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and have plans approved to build the country’s first eating disorder clinic. They have found 25 acres in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland where they will build Australia’s first live-in residential eating disorder facility.
However, they cannot do this alone. With many local businesses (17 to date) already donating their time, such as Blackburne Jackson Design who have created the designs for the facility pro bono, they now need all of Australia to get behind them and help raise $1.3m to secure the land purchase. A further $2m will be required from July 2018 to Feb 2019 to undertake the construction of the project.
Donations of cash are being accepted but they also have a list of all the construction components and would love to hear from anyone who may be able to provide cabinetry, hardware, doors, windows etc. as well as people able to provide the internal fit out of beds and lounges.
Equine Therapy will be an important part of the healing process and new equine related equipment such as leads, saddles, bridles and rugs (as well as sound school masters) will be very well received.
The team are doing everything they can to raise the much-needed funds and are organising a ‘Main Event’ fundraiser to be held on 20 July this year. If you would like to join them or are able to sponsor or donate an auction prize, they would love to hear from you.
With one in 10 people suffering from an eating disorder (25 per cent are male), and suicide 32 times higher for people suffering anorexia-nervosa than the general population, it is time we band together and do something about changing these horrific statistics.
Please get involved today and help us create Australia’s first Live In Residential ED Facility become a reality. For more details go to https://www.ended.org.au/