Andrea
Roe is an author and speaker whose mission is to show individuals struggling with
an eating disorder that they are not alone.
Why Eating Disorders? Because for six years, she was a slave to them
herself. Initially, it started as Anorexia and after a while, turned into full-blown
Bulimia. It was these behaviors that caused her to lose her friends, alienate
her family and ultimately withdraw from society.
She spent more and more
time alone in suffering until one day, she had had enough. As difficult as it
first was, she started by “coming out” to her mother. She sought professional
help and slowly started down the path to recovery.
Shortly afterwards,
she met her future husband and a result of their relationship, she started recovering
even faster. With his help, she went on to beat the disorder.
She attributes
her recovery to the people in her life who supported her through the process.
It wasn't always easy, but through them, it was finally possible.
That's
what set her on her mission.
In
October 2006, she released her first book, "You
Are Not Alone: The Book of Companionship For Women Struggling With
Eating Disorders". Featuring the inspirational stories of 34 different women
from around the world who had faced an eating disorder, the book was designed
to act as a support tool for all those who felt alone and useless to the world.
Positive
feedback from the first volume encouraged her to team up with fellow eating disorder
survivor and award-winning singer, Shannon Cutts, for a second book, which is
set to be released in early 2009.
In addition to her book, Andrea has been active in the online community
with her web site, www.eating-disorder-information.com. Originally set up in late
2005, It has become a valuable resource for those struggling with an eating disorder
and those supporting the sufferers.
From that web site, she created an monthly
e-newsletter called the "You Are
Not Alone Support Letter". With almost two years behind it, the Support
Letter now has over 2,000 regular readers and contributors.
In mid-2007,
Andrea started setting up local ED support groups in her local community of Langley,
BC. She also started speaking to schools and treatment centers about eating disorders
– how they start, how they can be beaten, and what supporters need to know when
working with someone who has this debilitating disease.
As
a result of her work, Andrea was awarded "Woman of the
Year" by her local community in 2007, for her commitment to working
with the local youth to overcome this dangerous mental disorder. She has also
been featured in national and international publications as a result of her work.
Now
it is her goal to continue to share her story, her knowledge and her healing message
with all those who need it – mainly that You Are Not Alone
and that Recovery IS Possible!
As
a result of her work, Andrea was awarded "