West Virginia University graduate student, Audrey Gunther, is bringing Project HEAL to campus this fall. Project HEAL is a nonprofit organization that works to raise money for people who suffer from eating disorders, but are unable to afford treatment.

Gunther believes the organization would be a support system on campus for students, particularly incoming freshmen and out-of-state students, who are struggling with an eating disorder. Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness, according to Psychology Today and the National Institute of Mental Health.

Gunther is passionate about bringing a chapter of Project HEAL to WVU because she has suffered from an eating disorder herself, which is how she became aware of the charity. “I had an eating disorder in high school and I followed them on Twitter for about a year and a half,” said Gunther. “I kind of thought this was the year that I am ready to do this and I want to make this happen on campus.”

She is currently working to raise the $500 required by Project HEAL to become a recognized chapter through the crowd funding website generosity.com. Gunther has raised $60 so far and hopes to meet the $500 goal by the middle of the fall semester.

Students can still be a part of the organization on campus before the funds are raised, but Project HEAL will not consider them a part of a chapter until the fundraising goal is met. The money raised will stay at WVU to help members launch their new group.

One of the things she said she likes about Project HEAL chapters is there does not have to be a medical professional associated with the organization in order for it to operate. “It really is just one big support system, which I think is something that is just a little bit different from traditional eating disorder treatment,” explained Gunther.

She plans to bring in guest speakers and nutritionists who can show it is possible to eat healthy while on a college budget after the organization is fully launched. Right now, in addition to raising money, Gunther is recruiting an executive team and students who want to be a part of the group in general.

“I think it really will give students who have eating disorders a resource and a group of people they feel comfortable talking to about it,” said Gunther. “I know that when I talk to my friends who have recovered and we reach out to each other, it’s a world of difference.”

Students who are interested in joining Project HEAL at WVU can contact Audrey Gunther at audreygunther@gmail.com. Anyone interested in donating can do so by following this link: https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/bring-project-heal-to-wvu.