The parents of a teenager girl who is seriously ill with an eating disorder have set up a support group to help other families experiencing the same devastating situation.

Donna and Paul Foster set up “Kick Rexi Out” after one of their daughters was diagnosed with anorexia earlier this year.

The family, who live in Wombleton, want to offer support to others with the aim of setting up a charity to provide both emotional and financial help.

Donna said: “ We knew nothing of this illness, but boy it ripped through our family at speed.

“The anorexia in our house became known as “Rexi”. She was like another person taking over our daughter’s thoughts and actions.

“Rexi is vile and very nasty and made our daughter extremely poorly. Unfortunately our daughter was admitted into a specialist unit over 2.5hours away from home.

“Having our daughter admitted was the last resort, but it saved her life.”

Donna said she was very passionate about helping other families whose children have an eating disorder.

“There is no help out there for parents or carers,” she added. “Kick Rexi Out’ wants to support those supporting a loved one with an eating disorder.

“’Kick Rexi Out’ is for the public benefit to raise awareness of the early stages of an eating disorder. Kick Rexi Out wants to provide emotional and physical support to families in the Ryedale area who are caring for a child or young adult up to the age of 25years old in the early stages of an eating disorder. “

A number of fundraising events have been held with more to come including a quiz night this Friday.

Donna said: “We aim to provide support by raising funds to provide leaflets, posters, and website. along with in person group meetings and family support packs.

“Our first fundraising event ‘Cheesy Brass’ raised a whopping £977.60 and massive thanks goes out to all those who supported us and The Rose & Crown Pub for the venue, then last but not least, The Kirkbymoorside Brass Band for bringing the roof down with their ‘Cheesy Brass’ tunes.

Donna said the group was currently are looking at helping those in the Ryedale area first with plans to expand.

“We are a team of people who passionately want to help the families both emotionally and financially,” she added.

“No one on the committee is medically trained to offer advice on how to help a child with an eating disorder. We don’t work for NHS or any other trust. We are just a group of people that want to help.

Donna said: “The strain the illness has on the rest of the family is huge both emotional and financial. Kick Rexi Out can help, carer to carer, parent to parent. We have a wonderful group of people who like our family want to help others too. We are still going through the journey, we don’t know how long our daughter will be away from home for. But for now let’s get this charity up and running and “Kick Rexi Out” of children’s lives.”

The quiz night will be held on Friday, November 25 at the Rose and Crown, Nawton, from 7pm. Entry is £5 per person, with a maximum of six in a team.

There will also be a raffle on the evening.

l If you live in the Ryedale area and would like some support email kickrexiout@gmail.com, WhatsApp us or message via the group's Facebook page.