Project 8.5k - The Run & Delivery of the Donated Goodies

I cannot believe that it has almost been a whole month that Project 8.5k was put into action.

December 1st was a beautiful morning for running - little wind, overcast, a comfortable temperature... we were feeling good!

I had a lovely small crew of those closest to me, and some strangers who've now become friends all join me for the cause - with more joining Rawing Mum on the 5km walk part.

I hadn't run this length before the day, so it was a really special experience pushing myself to cover a distance I'd not yet achieved, and I was thrilled that I managed to complete it whilst running non-stop. The whole time, I ran alongside a man I'd only met that morning - and we chatted about eating disorders and mental health, and just greater life in general. It was then that I saw the beauty in running... not only is it good for your physical fitness, but it brings people together who otherwise would never cross paths and increase your social and mental spirits too.

In total, after gathering all donations together given both in person, and from the givealittle page, we managed to raise over $1,250! When I started this idea and project, I was excited to reach $100, amazed to hit $500, shocked to reach $1,000, and absolutely blown away at the end total.

I keep saying we, because this was never going to be about me, or what I had planned to do. I could not have done this without the generosity, positivity, and support of my you - my family, friends, community members and anonymous gifting strangers.

So, what did I end up getting for the ward? The amount is honestly too long to describe in detail, so here's a general list of all the goodies for the staff & patients of the Eating Disorder ward:

• For their craft-room: scrapbooking stickers, paints & brushes, coloured pens & pencils & crayons, coloured & patterned paper, glitter, knitting wool & needles, colouring books, canvases, thick plain paper

• For the mind: wasgij puzzles, brain teasers, new board games, single-person puzzles, sudoku books

• Health & beauty - toothpaste, toothbrushes, decent shampoo & conditioner & body wash (if you've ever stayed in a hospital, you know how dry their soap is!), face wipes, nail polish, razors (that are securely stored!)

• For the mother & babies: new baby toys, puzzles & games, play-doh, colouring books & pencils

• New blankets

• For the staff: an assortment of cakes, fruit platters, veg & dip platters

• For the eating disorder inpatients: individual craft projects, notebooks & pens, "don't over think things" badges

I managed to work in delivering this to the ward while both Roger (one of the main head psychiatrists for the service & ward), and Jackie (charge nurse for the inpatient unit) we working. Seeing their faces of pure shock and unexpectedness was priceless - and is undoubtedly one of the best days on my life.

I can assure you that those goods were greatly appreciated by the staff, and will be absolutely loved by the current and future patients that walk through those doors and enter perhaps the most hardest time in their life they will experience.

So, for all of you that have followed this Project 8.5k - be it by donation, a message of support, promotion & sharing of the cause, and even seeking help for yourself - I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I may or may not be tearing up even writing this... but your support is why I do this & will continue to do so.

Eating Disorder Awareness was raised through this project, and I can promise you that mental health will continue to get awareness & realness from Rawing Meg well into this new year we are so close to seeing.

- Rawing Meg xx