Charlene Roberts tells of battle with bulimia and her quest to raise money for private treatment

Charlene Roberts

Charlene Roberts, from Middleton, is on a quest to raise money for private treatment to help her battle bulimia.

Charlene, 28, has struggled with bulimia and anorexia since she was 15.

Speaking to Rochdale Online, she said: “It makes me feel awful. I'm always poorly because I have no immune system and I am always in and out of hospital. I don't have the energy to do what I love as I'm usually very active.”

A dancer and an actor, Charlene has had to put her career on hold whilst she fights the condition.

She added: “My acting and dance career has taken a side-line because I don't look well and this is something that really frustrates me. The littlest thing hurts like hell and my body is constantly in agony from aching muscles and joints. I get very emotional very easily because I find my condition stressful.”

After falling ill as a teenager, Charlene has spent years in and out of hospital and has been in hospital 13 times in the past twelve months. Four of those times were deemed critical, with Charlene being rushed into resuscitation as doctors fought to save her as her body was shutting down.

Charlene now wants to go ahead with private treatment, after trying to win her battle against the condition with the NHS for over 10 years.

“I have worked alongside the NHS for over 10 years and I have deteriorated so much,” said Charlene. “I know if things carry on, I'm not going to be alive this year. Private treatment, I know, will help me and will help me not only deal with my illness on a conscious level, but on a sub conscious level and will help me to uncover the layers (like an onion - one layer, then down another layer and down another layer).

“They have a much larger run of treatment methods, so a treatment plan can be made to suit individuals. These types of treatments are a lot more effective and a lot more intense, but give you a better and long lasting result if you work with it. I don't want to lose this battle and I'm coming too close to it all of the time. This terrifies me.”

Charlene now hopes to raise around £7,000 to help with the treatment.

She added: “I don’t want to lose this battle. I’m terrified that I'm going to die and at the moment it’s very unlikely that I will see my 30th birthday or even my next birthday to be honest. This isn't a guess this is from the information of the professionals.”

Charlene also hopes that by speaking out about her battle, she can encourage others to tell their stories.

“This treatment will help me to learn what triggered my illness and how to cope with everyday situations without needing this condition,” she added. “It is so important to me to have a family - children are amazing and I want nothing more than a little one of my own or maybe two, but I wouldn't get pregnant knowing it could be at risk inside my fragile body.

“I want my life back so much, I've lost 15 years and I can't get them back. I love being in the entertainment industry and I'm not ready to say goodbye to it all yet. I will win this battle and in doing so (publicly) help others along my journey.”

To help Charlene fund her treatment visit:

http://gogetfunding.com/to-fund-life-saving-treatment-i-urgently-need/