Over $8,000 dollars was raised by the TrEating Disorders 5K that was held on Saturday, September 9th at Suggett Park in the City of Cortland.
The 5K was to spread awareness of eating disorders as well as raise money for several clinicians which would be able to provide specialized care in the county. The 5K was organized by Lydia Sujkowski who is a senior at SUNY Cortland and is in the Honors Program where students do a thesis project and used her project on her past experiences with an eating disorder.
“Based on the past experience that I had, I started in Florida in my first year of college, first year of COVID in Fall of 2020. It was very isolating time and it led to me developing an eating disorder.” Lydia said to X101 News.
She finished out her year in Florida before moving back to New York where she then sought treatment for her eating disorder only to find that there was no therapists that specialized in eating disorders locally, but only options that were virtual.
Lydia used her faith and the support of her family in overcoming her eating disorder, but knew when it came time for her thesis project, she could use it to address eating disorders as well as raise awareness.
With her athletic lifestyle and determination, a 5K was a perfect idea and the support of the Cortland Community, made it a success.
