About
This year, I’m pushing myself further than ever to honour the memory of two little girls and to raise money to improve the lives of children and young people. Sophie was admitted to an inpatient unit at just 12 years old. Over the weeks and months that followed, I watched her fight an illness that had taken so much from her. Through structured support, therapy and extraordinary determination, she began to find her way back to herself. She smiled again. She talked about the future. Her eyes, once grey, became a brilliant blue. What stays with me most, though, is her kindness. Sophie would spend hours making friendship bracelets for the other young people on the ward. Even while fighting her own battle, she was thinking about others. Seven months after her discharge, Sophie died. Her death certificate read: cardiac arrest, anorexia nervosa. Sophie changed me. She changed the person I am and the doctor I wanted to be. Ultimately, she inspired me to complete a Master’s in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health last year. Eating disorders are serious and potentially fatal illnesses, and their impact on children and young people in the UK is growing. Among 11–16-year-olds, eating disorder prevalence has risen more than five-fold since 2017, from 0.5% to 2.6%. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Evie Dove was just twelve years old when she suffered a seizure and was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. She died a year later, aged just thirteen. But Evie is remembered for so much more than her illness. She loved dancing. She loved pink. She had an infectious smile and a remarkable ability to bring happiness to the people around her. After losing Evie, her family chose to turn unimaginable grief into something extraordinary. They created The Evie Dove Foundation to support the education and development of paediatric healthcare professionals. I was incredibly fortunate to be one of the people they supported. Their generosity gave me the opportunity to complete my Master’s and take meaningful steps towards improving mental health care for children and young people. I will be taking on the Three Peaks Challenge, the Richmond Half Marathon, HYROX Birmingham and, finally, the London Marathon in 2027 to raise money for The Evie Dove Foundation. Two little girls. Two devastating stories. And yet, from tragedy, a story of hope has emerged — a legacy of kindness, compassion and a commitment to providing better care for children. With every mile, every mountain climbed and every finish line crossed, I hope to carry their legacy a little further — so that something beautiful can continue to grow from two lives taken far too soon. Thank you for reading, and thank you for your support.
