Advocacy Project Justification: National

Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Walk

Description of Project:
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Walk in State College is an awareness event
designed to bring attention to the issue of eating disorders, educate the public, support those
affected by eating disorders, and raise funds in support of NEDA’s mission. Through
advertisement on social media, news publications, flyers, emails, and in-person conversation,
NEDA volunteers aim to encourage walk attendance and accumulate donations towards the
event’s overall fundraising goal. All funds raised go towards NEDA’s continued advocacy,
education, prevention, and support work for the eating disorders community.

Defining the Situation:

Despite attempts to increase awareness, eating disorders remain widely misunderstood. These
potentially life-threatening conditions affect an estimated five to eight million Americans,
however, public funding for research remains limited with the National Institute of Health
“[allocating] only 93 cents… for every person with an eating disorder [in comparison to]… $88
for every person diagnosed with autism.”1 Because of the lack of public funding, research
efforts, educational resources, advocacy work, and treatment grants rely heavily on private
donations. In order to better understand and treat eating disorders, funding and education are
essential.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to

spreading awareness about eating disorders, providing screening tools and resources, and
funding both prevention and intervention efforts for at-risk and affected populations. Some of
NEDA’s biggest advocacy work occurs in the organization of eating disorders awareness walks
across the country. These events, often referred to as ‘NEDA Walks,’ occur annually in different
locations across the country to raise funds in support of NEDA’s mission, honor those who have
lost their lives to eating disorders, celebrate recovery, and support those in the midst of the
fight. Most walk attendees have some sort of connection to eating disorders, be it their own
struggle or the struggle of someone they love, however, through outreach and advertisement,
NEDA Walk coordinators aim to gain the support of people who may not have been familiar
with the cause prior to being introduced to the walk.

Establishing Goals and Objectives:

The goal of my advocacy project was two-fold: one part focused on raising awareness for eating
disorders by sharing information as a means for promoting the NEDA Walk in State College, the

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other part focused on utilizing promotional efforts for the walk as a way to accumulate
donations allowing for a financial contribution in support of NEDA’s mission. Through sharing
information about eating disorders and promoting the NEDA Walk, I wanted to bring attention
to the event and raise attendance on the day of the walk. By soliciting my friends and family for
donations, I was hoping to aid NEDA in providing resources, funding treatment grants, and
collaborating with different groups to conduct research to aid in the prevention and treatment
of eating disorders.

My objectives of increasing public participation in the walk and contributing to NEDA’s cause
were specific and measurable. Successful publicity and promotion of the event was measured
by the number of participants registered on my team for the day of the walk as well as the total
number of attendees at the event. Contributions to NEDA were measured by my individual
fundraising total, my team’s total, the event’s total, and efforts made to both coordinate and
execute the event. Because I chose to focus on increasing participation in the walk and
fundraising for NEDA within my personal social circles, my project objectives are both
attainable and realistic. The walk preparation began in January, with promotion and fundraising
efforts commencing in March and the event taking place on April 8, 2018. Since there was an
actual event where success could be measured, the goals of my project were time-bound and
appropriate.

While my goals were successfully achieved, a lack of understanding of eating disorders as a

whole and limited knowledge about NEDA’s purpose and work presented challenges in gaining
attention about the event. Because I have a personal connection to NEDA through my
experiences with an eating disorder, I infused personal anecdotes into my advertising and
promotional efforts to evoke an emotional response from my social media and in-person
audiences.

Target Audience:
My primary audience for this project was prospective walk participants and donors. These
individuals had the ability to directly influence the outcome of the event as a whole. Because
my advocacy work is not focused on policy change or any sort of legislative reform, the
secondary audience or group that influences walk participants and donors would likely be
people in the general population who lack an understanding of eating disorders or do not
consider them an issue. Those who do not understand serve to motivate walk participants and
donors to work towards raising awareness and educating the general public on eating
disorders.

Key Messages:
Core message – Eating disorders affect approximately five to eight million Americans in any
given year.2 Despite their prevalence, these conditions remain widely misunderstood. Eating
disorders do not discriminate – they can affect people of any age, race, gender, ethnicity, or
body type.3 The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the world’s largest nonprofit

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organization dedicated to spreading awareness and providing support to those affected by
eating disorders.4 With donations, NEDA is able to offer online screening tools, an eating
disorder helpline, a treatment provider search engine, and other resources, such as educational
pamphlets and discussion pages for those supporting loved ones through the recovery process.

Secondary message – While NEDA hosts a variety of advocacy events throughout the year, their
awareness walks are one of the most effective ways for the public to get involved in the fight
against eating disorders. Funds raised through NEDA Walks allow NEDA to continue to spread
awareness and offer resources that aid in the identification, treatment, and prevention of
eating disorders in individuals of all ages.

Planning for the Walk:

Because NEDA is a nonprofit organization, walks are planned by volunteers. NEDA sends
resources to assist with planning, but finding a location, soliciting the community for
sponsorships, locating speakers, and promoting the event are the responsibility of local
volunteers. While I was not this year’s NEDA Walk Coordinator, I was still able to assist with
planning, promotion, and day of event responsibilities.

My work involved making posters to promote involvement in the eating disorders awareness
group on campus, sharing information on social media, talking to community members, forming
a team for the event, and reaching out to my social network to encourage involvement and ask
for donations. When recruiting walk participants, I focused on communicating with people in
the State College area since it was a local event. However, when soliciting donations and
introducing NEDA and their mission, I made an effort to reach people across the country, with
support coming from as far as California.

Promotion of the Event:

While most walk attendees were from the State College area, last year’s walk attracted
participants from surrounding areas as well, so we made an effort to advertise online, in the
community, and through mediums that could reach all of Centre County. The Walk Coordinator,
Andrea, was featured on Central PA Live to discuss the event, as well as in The Daily Collegian
and on a local radio station. Additionally, we promoted the walk during National Eating
Disorders Awareness Week and hung flyers in establishments both downtown and in the
surrounding community. There was a Facebook event to invite potential attendees with a link
to a donation page through NEDA’s website. To encourage donations, we set a walk fundraising
goal of $15,000, which was $5,000 more than last year’s walk goal.

The Event:
The State College NEDA Walk occurred on April 8, 2018, at Sidney Friedman Park. There were
approximately 200 walk attendees, 17 of whom were members of my team, Phi Sigma Pi.
During the event, participants learned about NEDA’s mission, were given the opportunity to

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write cards to people in treatment, and were educated on the topic. There were two guest
speakers, Megan Capella, a college student who had successfully recovered from an eating
disorder, and Jody Whipple, a local dietitian who specializes in the treatment eating disorders.
Both speakers made an effort to explain eating disorders, dispel common myths, and convey
the message that, with treatment, full recovery is possible.

Following the speakers and recognition of leading fundraisers, attendees participated in a one-
mile walk around the surrounding neighborhood. The walk is a non-competitive, reflective
activity that is intended to provoke thought and promote a sense of community among
participants. At several points along the trail, volunteers mounted signs that provided
compelling facts regarding eating disorders.

Outcome:
The 2018 State College NEDA Walk has raised $12,224 to date. My walk team, Phi Sigma Pi,
raised $405, making us one of the top fundraising groups. As an individual, I raised $290, which
made me one of the top individual fundraisers. I introduced people to an organization capable
of making a difference in the fight against eating disorders and, while $12,224 was shy of the
walk’s goal, it helps in making life-saving resources available to people in need.

The event also received media coverage from The Daily Collegian. Coverage included photos, a
video recap of the walk, and interviews from volunteers and treatment providers. I was
featured in the piece and had a chance to share my connection to the cause.

Future Plans for Advocacy:

The 2019 NEDA Walk planning will commence at the beginning of the next academic year. As I
am preparing to become the 2020 Walk Coordinator, I hope to be more closely involved with
the planning of the event and am optimistic that it will continue to grow in coming years. In the
meantime, I plan to continue to advocate for eating disorders awareness and support NEDA
and other nonprofits dedicated to the cause through writing, fundraising, and public speaking.

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Evidence of Advocacy Work:
Prezi (from class):
https://prezi.com/p/qzni--snm7qe/
State College NEDA Walk Page:
https://nedawalk.org/statecollege2018
Personal Fundraising Page:
http://neda.nationaleatingdisorders.org/site/TR/NEDAWalk/General?px=1567074&pg=persona
l&fr_id=4444
Team Fundraising Page:
http://neda.nationaleatingdisorders.org/site/TR/NEDAWalk/General?pg=team&fr_id=4444&te
am_id=39173
Central PA Live Feature:
http://www.wearecentralpa.com/central-pa-live/neda-walk-2018/1094496234
The Daily Collegian:
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/borough/article_49d4439a-3936-11e8-898c-
5726d63719bd.html (before event)
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/gallery/news/collection_61089b28-3b4e-11e8-ac84-
cb6084bb5de5.html#1 (day of event – features personal interview)
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/borough/article_a9263d4e-3b52-11e8-94d7-
0f3330bc87ed.html (photos)
Screenshots of Social Media Posts and Pictures from Event:

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<- Instagram (cropped to fit page)

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Endnotes:
1
Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, “Statistics: How Many People Have Eating Disorders?” available at
https://www.anred.com/stats.html (last accessed April 2018); Mirror-Mirror.org, “Eating Disorders Statistics,”
available at https://www.mirror-mirror.org/eating-disorders-statistics.htm (last accessed April 2018).
2
Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, “Statistics: How Many People Have Eating Disorders?”
3
National Eating Disorders Association, “Nine Truths about Eating Disorders,” available at
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/nine-truths-about-eating-disorders (last accessed April 2018).
4
National Eating Disorders Association, “Our Work,” available at https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/about-
us/our-work (last accessed April 2018).