A BLACKBURN woman is urging people to save the charity which aided her recovery from an eight-year battle with anorexia.

SEED (Support and Education for Eating Disorders) and partner agency, Breathe, is an award-winning charity and community enterprise founded by Burnley-born Shelley Perry in 2007.

But it has been surviving on a shoe-string since external funding was cut and is facing closure in the next few weeks.

It needs around £8,000 per month to run the services.

Ruby Henderson, 25, was first diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when she was 17 and despite NHS treatment, suffered relapses. She said: “I found SEED when I relapsed in 2012.

“By this time, I’d had the problem for a long time and I knew exactly what was going on. SEED was the first place that told me that recovery was possible and that an eating disorder didn’t have to be something that I would suffer from forever.

“It is absolutely crucial that support like this is available, especially in a time when there is such a strain on mental health services and NHS budgets are being cut.”

With the support of SEED, Ruby and her partner, Josie, who was also battling with the eating disorder, both made a giant strides towards wellness.

Ruby said: “I believe I owe my recovery entirely to them. They must remain open.”

The Preston-based charity offers a variety of support services, has helped more than 350 people recover and is the only charity of its kind in Lancashire.

Shelley said: “There are many vulnerable people in need of specialist support but the effects of eating disorders are massively underestimated and misunderstood.”

Visit www.lancashireseed. btik.com or ring 0844 3915539 if you think you can help.