Woman overcame eating disorder through cycling
Amy Hudson is cycling from Italy to Derby to raise money for a mental health charity
- Published
A woman who overcame an eating disorder through cycling is riding 2,000km (1,243 miles) in eight days, to raise money for a charity that supported her.
Starting on Sunday, Amy Hudson is cycling from Italy to her home in Derby over eight days, for mental health charity First Steps.
She took up cycling as a hobby during lockdown in 2021, after suffering from a "breakdown" and feeling as though she "didn't want to be here".
Now she hopes her latest challenge will not only raise funds but raise awareness and encourage people to "keep going".
Mrs Hudson, whose cycling adventures are followed on social media by more than 79,000 people, said she had suffered from an eating disorder from the age of about 17, until she was 24.
She had been working as a mental health nurse but her own condition took a turn in 2021, and she began suffering from intrusive thoughts and anxiety.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, she said: "About three years ago I had a complete breakdown in the lockdown.
"My husband randomly bought me a bike from Halfords and I used to go out every weekend in the Peak District and it was the only time when I felt like my mind could really switch off."
'Just keep going'
It was only after she felt better that Mrs Hudson said she opened up about what she had been going through at the time of her breakdown.
Having always struggled with "anxiety and overthinking", when the lockdown happened, the then mental health nurse started to worry about her young patients.
"I started worrying about what if something happens to one of the kids I'm working with and it's my fault - and it just spiralled from there.
"I ended up with really intrusive thoughts and basically I thought I was going to prison," Mrs Hudson said.
Since finding solace in cycling, Mrs Hudson has taken on numerous challenges for charity and also found a cycling partner in her husband.
The couple hope to ride 200km (125 miles) a day starting from Treviso, going through the Alps and eventually back to Derby, with a goal of raising £1,000 for First Steps.
Mrs Hudson added: "No matter how hard life gets, just keep going. Now I've been through all that, when you have the good times, it makes you really appreciate them."
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