Gemma Oaten takes on Thames Bridges Trek to help fund Hull-based eating disorder support service

Hull’s Gemma Oaten is on a mission to help people affected by eating disorders, as her charity is overwhelmed by an increasing number of cases.

Actress and motivational speaker Gemma, who was herself given only 24 hours to live as a ten-year-old battling an eating disorder, is set to take on the Thames Bridges Trek, a 25km zig-zagging walking challenge over 16 historic Thames bridges, on Saturday, September 9. She is walking to support her charity SEED Eating Disorder Support Services, with SEED standing for Support and Empathy for people with Eating Disorders.

Gemma’s challenge is also in memory of Big Brother contestant Nikki Grahame, 38, and Chelsea Blue, 17, two young women who died from eating disorders and after whom two therapy rooms at SEED’s Resource Room, in Princes Quay, Hull, are named. Gemma, 39, will be walking with Nikki’s best friend Carly Cunningham and members of the SEED team, in the hope of raising £15,000 to keep the Resource Room fully operational and available to people seeking help.

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Her JustGiving page says: “Eating disorder cases have skyrocketed. SEED is overwhelmed with referrals and needs vital funds to increase capacity so that we can help people walk the path to recovery. Come join us for the Thames Bridges Trek on September 9 and help save lives.”

After the SEED Resource Room opened in January, Gemma and Carly gave an emotional interview on BBC Breakfast about the desperate need for its services. Within a couple of weeks, SEED had over 100 new referrals.

Gemma said: “While it is incredible that people are reaching out, we are also overwhelmed as a tiny team and are unable to have the Resource Room open for the hours in the week it deserves. This is why we need your help to raise vital funds so we can give more support to those who clearly desperately need us.

“Our Resource Room provides a drop-in support and listening service that facilitates our workshops, support groups, advice line and more. And, of course, most importantly, we provide free one-to-one therapy for those who need us.”

Gemma added: “Nikki always wanted to do the bridges of London walk but sadly never lived to do so. This is for her, this 25km trek will be done with our fullest hearts.”

Gemma is CEO of SEED, a charity co-founded 23 years ago by her parents Marg and Dennis Oaten as they fought to save their daughter’s life while in the grips of an eating disorder. “Through their pain and seeing the devastating lack of support, which led to me nearly dying four times, they decided to make a change and set up SEED to support all those affected by eating disorders, both loved ones/parents and those directly impacted.

“Now recovered, I have brought much awareness around eating disorders. I was able to get well again after 13 years and fulfil my dreams of becoming an actress, but it was only down to my amazing parents and the work we do at SEED.

“Me now being CEO is a full-circle journey and I pray it gives hope to others that recovery is possible. We need support more than ever to ensure those affected by eating disorders don’t just survive, they thrive.

“One in five of those affected by an eating disorder will die as a direct result of the eating disorder or by taking their own life. Early intervention is key, yet so many have to wait to receive care, or devastatingly, like myself, get turned away from receiving treatment because they aren’t ‘ill enough’.

“This is why we do what we do, we bridge the gap where services can’t deliver. We believe in treating the person and not the eating disorder. We deliver a whole person centred approach with empathy, lived experience and kindness.”