A Spalding woman who battles anorexia has helped set up a support group in South Holland after being told she’d have to travel an hour for such a service.
Holly Rodgers developed the eating disorder 12 years ago when aged 14.
She’s full of praise for NHS care in the area, but when offered to attend a peer support group, she was told she’d have to travel to Lincoln.
Now, after realising how beneficial they can be while volunteering at one in Peterborough, she has helped set up a South Holland support group so people locally don’t have to face the travelling which put her off attending one.
“The GP was amazing and I got referred to the Johnson Hospital eating disorder nurse,” she said of her initial diagnosis. “She was brilliant and I can’t fault the NHS system at all. They really cared and went above and beyond. I’m lucky to receive the treatment I did.
“Whilst undergoing this support, I was offered to attend a peer support group but it was in Lincoln.
“The thought of travelling that far for an hour session seemed silly. I didn’t go.
“The Peterborough support group I volunteer for is incredible and you can see the benefit of peer group support.
“This got me thinking that we needed to do something like this in South Holland.”
Even 12 years later Holly was stunned to find the only peer support group offered for people starting their recovery in South Holland is in Lincoln.
She’s teamed up with two women she met at Moulton Participation Group and has launched the sessions that take place at Moulton Village Hall from 11am on Saturdays every other week.
The next one is this Saturday (August 10).
“We’ve had positive praise from people that have attended the group,” said Holly. “They’ve told us they felt supported and that just coming for a chat helped.
“We don’t offer any medical support or advice; we just listen.
“People say they’ve felt inspired and that it’s good to have something local and useful.
“I’d urge people not to be ashamed of your story and don’t give the past the power to define your future.
“You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can change the ending. Smile, be you.
“It’s easy in recovery to feel guilty and you have to grieve for what you lose through anorexia but eventually you have to let go and realise you have a life to live well for.”
