Â
For Lucas Jennings, the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) walk on October 13 will be personal.
The junior information systems and finance major and philanthropy chair of Zeta Psi was touched by the struggle of both his high school girlfriend and another friend and their eating disorders, so he decided to do something to help.
“It angered me so much to see that people wouldn’t say anything about it, even if they knew it affected others,” Jennings said. Â
After becoming the philanthropy chair for Zeta Psi last year, Jennings began researching charities that worked to fight against eating disorders. When he stumbled upon NEDA, everything clicked.
NEDA was founded in 2001. Soon after, the group began hosting walks to aid in awareness and to fundraise for the group. This is where Jennings and his fraternity, Zeta Psi, come in.
Jennings suggested hosting a NEDA walk on campus to his brothers last year. Despite being an unlikely place to raise money for eating disorders (as less men are affected by eating disorders than women), the fraternity approved the walk, and fundraising got underway for the inaugural NEDA Walk at the University of Maryland.
“All of my brothers chipped in each year we hosted the walk. It’s been really great,” Jennings said.
In 2012, over $9,000 was raised to benefit NEDA.
“This is something that is swept under the rug,” Jennings said. “Everybody is pushing it aside. For me, it was about showing others that this is a problem.”
This year is expected to be even more successful. There will be over 200 participants in the walk. The walk itself will be one mile long, and is noncompetitive, so participants are encouraged to participate in whatever capacity they feel is healthy.
More organizations will be involved this year than last, including the Food and Nutrition Club and the sorority Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delt).
Tri Delt will kick off its own philanthropy, Fat Talk Free Week, by participating in the event. This will be the sorority’s first year involved with the NEDA walk.
“Since we’re in college, a lot of girls have really negative body issues,” Tri Delt philanthropy chair, Nicole Anastassopoulos said. “It’s important for us to raise awareness and to help make money for NEDA.”
The money raised by the walk be used by NEDA for awareness, prevention, services and rehabilitation programs for those with eating disorders.
With raised involvement in the walk, Jennings is excited to see the donation numbers rise. He expects that by October 13, the walk will raise over $10,000 for NEDA.
In addition to bringing the NEDA walk to the University of Maryland, Jennings hopes to increase his involvement in other ways.
“I want to do more to be involved,” Jennings said. “This is what I can do to help out.”
The NEDA walk will be hosted on McKeldin Mall on Sunday, October 13 at 11 a.m. To sign up or donate, visit http://neda.nationaleatingdiso…
Photo:Â www.nationaleatingdisorders.org