Cork woman raises €40,000 for eating disorder treatment
She’s getting closer to her goal.
Cork woman Dr. Lisa Murphy has raised nearly €40,000 towards inpatient care for an eating disorder that is threatening her life.
A GoFundMe page set up earlier this week by one of Lisa’s friends has taken off on social media, and it is now two-thirds of the way to reaching its goal of €60,000. 1,467 people have donated in the two days since the page was set up.
The page’s blurb slams under-investment in mental health care in Ireland, which has effectively ruled out access for many people like Lisa who desperately need inpatient care.
“It is hard to believe the same happy-go-lucky girl has been suffering for so long. As she doesn’t have health insurance (this is a pre-existing condition), she has tried over the past number of years to get appropriate care.
“However, due to underinvestment in public mental health services, particularly eating disorder services, she has not been able to access the type of care that she needs, and that her GP and other health practitioners agree is required.”
Lisa has been forced to seek out a private option, which will cost €60,000 for a 12 week programme.
Sharing the page on Twitter, Murphy wrote: “This is the very last thing I wanted to do, but I am out of options. Please donate / share the link, every little helps. Please be kind, this isn’t easy. Thank you to my friends & family for their unwavering love & support.”
The page says that “the best possible chance for Lisa to recover from her illness and live a normal life, free of the pain she has been living with for so long, is inpatient treatment. It is the only option left to her.
“We have been assured by a residential treatment facility that as soon as we raise the funds, Lisa will secure a place on a 12-week inpatient eating disorder programme.”
If you want to donate to Lisa’s treatment, you can do so here.
