Twenty-year-old Kassandra Bailey, a psychology student from Norwich is running the London Marathon for Beat.
PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY

Adam Gretton
Saturday, March 30, 2013
9:00 AM

A Norwich psychology student, who has begun a career in helping people with eating disorders, is preparing to run her first marathon to help a local charity.

Kassandra Bailey is hoping to raise £1,500 for Norwich-based Beat, which supports people with eating disorders.

The 21-year-old, of Buckingham Road, Norwich, has seen first hand how devastating eating disorders can be to patients and their families by working at an inpatient clinic in the city.

The third year student, who is studying psychology at the University of Surrey, is currently on a year-long placement at Newmarket House Clinic as part of her studies.

Miss Bailey decided to get into psychology after a friend of her’s had anorexia and received inpatient treatment for her condition. The student added that she had struggled during her time at university with disordered eating, which she managed to overcome with support from her boyfriend.

The former Sprowston High School and Paston College student said she realised that she was beginning to develop an eating disorder because of the pressure of fending for herself at university.

“I never got to the point where I sought professional help. For a period I was very restrictive in my feeding and I was counting calories. I knew quite quickly that it was not the way to go and my weight dropped quite quickly in my second year at university. I realised I did not need professional help, but for other people they need someone to turn to and Beat is the place to get it,” she said.

Miss Bailey is set to return to her studies in September for the final year of her four year course.

She began training for the Virgin London Marathon in October after securing a place for the April 21 event through Beat.

She said: “I remember watching the marathon as a child and saying it looks amazing and thinking it was something that I would like to do one day. I am really excited and a bit apprehensive as I’ve had a few knee problems, but I am determined to hope over the line if I have to,” she said.

To sponsor her, type Kassandra Bailey into the search section of www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/

For more information about Beat, call the support line on 0845 634 1414.