Annie Windley, a 21-year-old from Derbyshire, battled anorexia for over five years, at one point weighing just 29 kg, putting her at risk of a heart attack. After multiple hospital stays and medical treatments, Annie found strength in running, which helped her recovery. In 2017, she made the decision to fight for herself, gaining three stone in four months.

Annie realized that kindness, relationships, and how we treat others matter far more than physical appearance. She encourages others to shift focus from food to things that truly bring joy and purpose. Her participation in the Chesterfield Half Marathon further strengthened her recovery, and she now views exercise as a celebration of what the body can do, not a way to compensate for food.

She acknowledges that recovery is hard, but urges others not to let anorexia prevent them from living fulfilling lives.

Annie’s message is one of resilience and hope: “It’s never too late to make a positive change.”