A FORMER Kent woman is fulfilling her dream of retracing Chaucer's steps to raise awareness about eating disorders a issue “very dear to her heart”.

Fiona Bromelow, 47, who grew up in Headcorn, near Maidstone, but now lives in Gloucestershire, has supported her daughter, Zoe, 21, in her battle against anorexia for a decade.

Mrs Bromelow, will be doing a five-day sponsored walk from Southwark in London to Canterbury, the Pilgrims' Way, next week to raise money for eating disorders charity, B-eat, and will be joined by the High Sheriff of Kent, Nigel Wheeler.

She is looking forward to giving something back to B-eat, which has given her support since her daughter was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 14.

She said: “It has been difficult to understand what the best thing to do as a parent as there is a lot of conflicting advice out there especially among the professionals.

“The wonderful thing about B-eat is that it is run by a mum, who knows what it is like to live with the illness.

“It was good to know that you are not alone and have someone to talk to. B-eat has a helpline available evenings and weekends.”

Her daughter, once plummeted to five stone when she was 18. She is now, however in recovery and has reached a healthy weight.

Mrs Bromelow, who dreamt of walking the Pilgrims Way after studying Chaucer at Maidstone Girls’ Grammar School, has been in training for next week’s 75 mile-hike.

“Being in Southwark where Chaucer’s pilgrims started their journey to Canterbury and having a whole week to raise awareness of something very dear to my heart seemed like enough of a coincidence to run with, so the idea of walking for B-eat was born.”

Mr Wheeler will be joining Fiona, and her group including her goddaughter's mother Connie Lightstone on day four of the walk from Hollingbourne Station through to Wye.

He said: “I whole heatedly support Fiona and those concerned and supporting B-eat. As a schoolmaster working in a co-ed school in earlier days, I was aware of the sad implications of anorexia on the teenage girls some of whom I taught. An obsession for thinness, a belief in personal unattractiveness and a total lowering of self esteem dominated their lives and distorted sense, reason and fact.

“B-eat reminds us of the need to help and support those afflicted.”

Anyone can support the walk which starts on Monday (February 25), at 9am. Details can be found at www.walk4beat.co.uk. For more information on B-eat, visit www.b-eat.co.uk