NEDA Visits Santa Monica
Approximately 400 people gathered at Crescent Bay Point Park in Santa Monica, California this Saturday, April 7th, to show support for those who have experienced the hardships of having an eating disorder.
The event started at 10:00 a.m., with numerous speakers taking the stage and sharing their own stories of conquering their eating disorders. Jillian Rose Reed, an actress who was on MTV's hit show "Awkward," shared her story and personal experiences with the crowd.
"Recovery is possible for everybody. I wanted to get involved with breaking the chains, which is my foundation and also with NEDA to really spread positivity," Reed said. "I wanted to be a positive light in people lives whether they're recovering or have recovered just so they know they are not alone."
Other speakers included James Vitale, Sarah Burney, and a performance of "7 Chairs," which was choreographed by Alex Little.
Many in the supportive crowd explained that they began to feel comfortable with one another after the speakers opened up and shared their emotions and encounters.
"It's a community of people really coming together to raise awareness for a really big cause that has affected a lot of people," said Claire Spivak, who attended the event.
Many of the attendees have experienced having an eating disorder, or at least know someone who has or still does. Rebecca Cohn, who attended the event with Spivak, said: "This is the second year I've been here, I've been through a bunch of treatment and I get to see all my past treatment team. This is an amazing cause and I hope everyone finds a support team and hope."
The event ended just after 11:00 a.m., with many attendees staying in the park after their short walk down the Santa Monica boardwalk. Many did say the event managed to get its message across of letting those from an eating disorder feel the support others have for them.
"I think it's really important to raise awareness, people don't want to talk about eating disorders," Reed said. "They're ashamed, they feel scared and we need to change the conversation. Just be honest with yourself and if you're suffering it's not who you are, and you can be recovered."