Hi, My name is Michelle Lee and I'm 23 years old from Toronto, Ontario. I am emailing you regards to pitch an idea to partner with you with the movement for eating disorders and mental health I am trying to make. I was raised in a Korean community where physical appearance holds great importance. For the past nine years, I went through self-abuse in regards to beauty, with 6 years of 2 Eating Disorders (anorexia and bulimia) and Mental Health Issues (anxiety and depression). At the age of 14, I weighed 175 lbs with a height of 5"6.5. I decided to go on a diet to be the definition of society's "Beauty" and lost 20 pounds within a school year. When I was 16, I lost a drastic 40 pounds because I got rejected to prom and thought to be considered as "beautiful" I had to be at the lowest weight possible. While in university, I lost an addition 25 pounds because of the Eating Disorders. By the end, I was 90 lbs. I couldn't tell anyone because I was ashamed and afraid of judgment by being called disgusting and gross. In 2019, I made the decision that I couldn't live like this anymore and decided to go to the gym. By going to the gym, I physically and mentally got better. My stress vanished and I am starting to heal. I am trying to make a movement with Mental Health and especially Eating Disorder because it's still shamed upon. I am trying to spread my story as wide as possible to let those who are suffering, alone, because they are ashamed to know that there is help and there is hope. Currently, we have a day dedicated to mental health, "Bell Let's Talk" day, where people spread the #BellLetsTalk on Twitter, spread the video of bell let's talk on facebook and also on other platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat. Every time it get's spread, Bell donates 5 cents to Mental Health. I would like to have a movement similar to this for Eating Disorders. We currently have a Eating Disorder week, but not a lot of people know about this. I would like to make this movement and help those who are in need.
#FightforED #FightforMentalHealth
Please check out my Instagram: Michellehjl for more information!!
Thank you,
Michelle