NICOLA Bragg deserves every success in her bid to start a charity for those who suffer eating disorders in silence.

The need for such an organisation is clear. It is in the nature of many such disorders that the sufferer either does not know or is unwilling to concede that they are suffering.

Even those who do come to a realisation can face a lack of understanding our outright misunderstanding in society at large.

This is a tragedy that can blight lives. Nicola herself, as a survivor, knows this only too well.

As she reveals in our story today, she spent many of her younger days consuming little more than boiled potatoes and soft drinks, and would make herself vomit.

The damaging cycle came with a high price including organ damage and the loss of her teeth.

Even now, she must take 20 tablets a day in order to keep her medical problems under control.

The charity Nicola envisages would tackle the issue head on with a variety of strategies, including raising awareness, providing a listening ear, providing information to sufferers and teaching them about food and nutrition.

The educational aspect of the plan is especially admirable.

Nicola has decided to make a difference and embarked on a course of action that could well end up saving lives.

The least the rest of us can do is offer her as much support as possible.

Details of how to become involved can be found at the end of our story.