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The story of The Secret Burden began on Mother’s Day in 2016 when co-founder Kendall Walters went to Facebook to document her 14-year-old daughter’s admission into hospital for Anorexia Nervosa, calling her Anorexia diagnosis;
“The Secret Burden”.
Kendall and her husband Andrew had tried everything they could to help their daughter Ashlee recover from Anorexia. After 22 weeks of limited professional help at home, Kendall and Andrew had no choice but to admit Ashlee into a children’s mental health ward in Brisbane, where her recovery journey began.
In 2018, Ashlee started to share her side of the story, becoming an educated voice, nationally and internationally, in the eating disorder and body image space.
In sharing their lived experience, Ashlee and Kendall saw a need for change and founded The Secret Burden Charity in 2022.
They have since made appearances on 60 Minutes Australia, CNN, The Today Show, Nexus News International, CBS12 News America and Season 3 of the Channel Nine Television Series, Parental Guidance.
We have been you and walked a mile in shoes just like yours, part of the 70 million people worldwide living with an eating disorder, but we have come out the other side. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.
We’re on a mission to make a change to those numbers and the lives of those affected by eating disorders. Supporting families by sharing our lived experience and connecting you with the professional support you need.
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