At least 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder and nearly half of all Americans know someone who has suffered from an eating disorder.
Our Mission
Our mission is Eating Disorder Awareness. By hosting this benefit, we are hoping to engage the greater Chattanooga community in a discussion about eating disorders. People are suffering all around us but either due to not being aware of the signs, not knowing how to deal with it, or various other factors, individuals suffer in silence until its so life-consuming that it can not be ignored. This event is about educating the community, identifying resources for help, and raising funds for continued education and prevention throughout the Tennessee Valley.
“eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses – at least one person dies every hour as a direct result of complications from an eating disorder.”
Why Get Involved?
Eating disorders are real, complex, and potentially life-threatening conditions that affect a person’s physical and emotional health. They are not a fad, phase or lifestyle choice and they do not discriminate among age, gender, or economic status despite the commonly held myth that eating disorders only affect young, upper class women. At least 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder and nearly half of all Americans know someone who has suffered from an eating disorder. Those struggling with an eating disorder have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders, and approximately one person dies every hour as a direct result from suffering from the disorder. Research shows that early intervention and specialized treatment is critical in establishing recovery from an eating disorder.
The Mary Cameron Robinson Foundation for the prevention of eating disorders was founded on May 25, 2006.The MCR foundation was inspired after losing Mary Cameron Robinson (Cammy), on September 2, 2005 to complications stemming from a 14 year battle with all 3 eating disorders.There are very few resources in the Chattanooga area that someone with an eating disorder can reach out to for help. We hope to change this. The main purpose of this foundation at this present time is to raise funds and begin educating the Greater Chattanooga Tri-State Area about eating disorders. We plan on targeting all age groups and both sexes so that we may begin putting educational programs into schools. Prevention through education and awareness is key. When knowledge of eating disorders is absent, there is no way to combat the problem at hand. Early Intervention increases treatment success. There is hope.
Focus Treatment Centers has been providing compassionate and comprehensive treatment in the Chattanooga area for over 16 years. Focus first opened its doors in 2005, specializing in the treatment of those struggling with substance abuse and soon after, developed a specialized program for those struggling with all forms of eating disorders. Focus is recognized as a center for excellence, offering a full continuum of care of detoxification, residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of care for substance addictions and eating disorders. Focus, a long-term treatment partner with MCR Foundation. Proceeds donated through Bow Ties and Blossoms will be directly used by MCR foundation to provide eating disorder education and prevention throughout Tennessee.