Without the support of Beat, I wouldn’t have had the strength to wait for treatment and my self-destruction would have spiralled fatally out of control.”

These are the words of Esther Rich, an Oxford student who will be rowing from Oxford to London this week to raise funds for the charity who supported her to beat an eating disorder.

She said: “In 2012 the number of hospital admissions for eating disorders in the UK rose by an astounding 16 per cent according to the Oxford Department of Psychiatry.

“Oxfordshire is very lucky to have a high quality NHS treatment unit called Cotswold House, but the number of places is limited and it is impossible for every single sufferer to get the help they need quickly. “This is where Beat comes in. Beat is a charity which works to raise awareness of eating disorders and provide support and advice for sufferers and their family and friends.

“They rely on volunteers to run their helplines and support groups, including two based in Oxfordshire. The charity provides information and interviews to the media, fundraises and provides dedicated support to sufferers at a local level.”

Eight students from Corpus Christi College will become the first all-female team to row 180km from Oxford to London over three full days from June 23-26 to raise money for Beat to continue their life-saving work. The charity is particularly important to the girls because Beat helped crew member Esther to recover from severe anorexia — she now volunteers as a Young Ambassador to raise awareness of eating disorders and their effects. Over the past six months the girls have been preparing for the challenge with an intense training schedule including spending hours at a time on rowing machines and painful circuit sessions. They’ve been out on the water in rain, fog, ice and snow. Crew member Maria Langslow said: “Training has certainly been tough! We more often than not come off the water with blistered hands and aching legs.

“The fact that we are helping to change this situation for the better is what gets me through all the bad outings and everlasting rowing erg sessions!” The team will hold a launch event to see them set off on their journey at the Head of the River pub in Oxford from 10.30am on Sunday, June 23. There is a free barbecue and jazz band and the event is open to all, so feel free to go along and support them.

You can also sponsor them at: www.justgiving.com.londonrow or text ‘ROWS55 £(amount you wish to donate)’ to 70070. Visit www.b-eat.co.uk for more information about Beat.