First Wilmington area NEDA Walk held at Wrightsville Beach

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — People braved the cool and windy weather Saturday morning at Wrightsville Beach Park to go for a walk, all in support of the National Eating Disorders Association.

This was the first walk of its kind in the Wilmington area and it was organized by Port City native Lauren Hill.

Hill has struggled with eating disorders herself and she wanted to bring awareness to the issue in her hometown.

She says about 150 people showed up and she saw a lot of emotion on their faces as she told her story.

“I think it helps for people to see somebody who’s been through it and gotten to the other side and seeing that there is hope,” Hill said. “Also for family members, to see my mom up there talking about her experience, it can give them some hope for their child as well.”

As a ceremonial end to the walk, attendees were invited to grab a baseball bat and smash body weight scales.

Hill says she plans to make the NEDA Walk an annual event.