Executive director of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, Paul Thomey, left, was a busy man Tuesday, visiting at least three local town councils where mayors, including CBS Mayor Darrin Bent, right, proclaimed February 1 – 7 as Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Bent actually signed the proclamation February 1. Tuesday was Thomey’s chance to thank CBS, Paradise and Mount Pearl councils for taking action. “Eating Disorder Awareness Week is not just one week of the year,” Thomey said. “It’s all 52 weeks of the year. And it’s certainly 52 weeks of the year for families and individuals who are dealing with an eating disorder, because it is a journey. It can be a long journey, it can be a rough journey, but people know there are supports out there, and we are there to help. And we have some great supports in our health care system.” The foundation was started some 16 years ago by well known business leader Vince Withers and his wife Delores, who lost their daughter Renata, age 27, to an eating disorder. Renata had suffered from anorexia for many years. Her struggle, and their journey with her, inspired Withers to help other people and families who are dealing with an eating disorder. “They’ve turned that into this foundation that has done a lot of good work and, as Vince has said, thousands and thousands of families have come through our doors whom we’ve talked to and a lot of people have had great success stories from this journey. By being here tonight, you people are hearing our message, and a lot more people are hearing it, and what we need you to know is that there is support out there. We provide programs to support families, because we believe families are critical to a recovery journey for a eating disorder.” Mayor Bent complimented Thomey, the foundation and the Withers family for all the work they are doing to help people. “It’s very serious and affects a lot of people and I’m sure that just about everybody in this room knows somebody who’s been affected by an eating disorder,” he added. “The awareness campaigns that your foundation does are fantastic… It’s a pleasure to be able to help spread that awareness along with you.”