A BERKSHIRE student is set to make a splash with a charity challenge this summer.
In July, Oscar Sanger is due to swim across Lake Geneva, making a 14km trip from Switzerland to France to raise money for Beat.
Beat is the UK’s largest eating disorder charity, lending support to people who experience disturbance of eating behaviours or struggle with mental health problems related to eating.
Mr Sanger, 22, is currently studying at the University of Exeter, though his family home is near Reading.
He explains that the cause is close to home due to a family member experiencing repeated hospital visits as a result of severe anorexia.
It means he has seen first-hand the effects the condition and others like it can have on both the person themselves and their loved ones.
As such, he resolved to support the charity in tackling eating disorders with a fundraising challenge before he returns home from a student exchange programme in Switzerland.
Mr Sanger will be joined by William Henman in the undertaking, due to take place in July.
So far, their JustGiving page has raised more than £1,600.
Around 1.25 million people in the UK suffer from eating disorders according to Beat’s figures.
National Eating Disorder Association statistics show that around 1 in 4 students (24%) at university will personally experience some kind of eating disorder during their studies.
Beat provides a national helpline which helps those suffering to understand their illness and take positive steps towards treatment.
It also provides help to family and friends of those with disorders as well as raising awareness and reducing stigma attached to eating disorders through national campaigns.
More information about the charity’s work and how to access support is available via: beateatingdisorders.org.uk.
To donate to Oscar and Will’s Swim Challenge in aid of Beat, visit: justgiving.com/page/oscarandwillswim
