A FLINTSHIRE gym held a 12-hour danceathon in aid of a woman's battle with anorexia. 

The '80s themed continuous boogy was held at the Aspire to Inspire women's gym in Buckley to raise vital funds for Flintshire woman, Amy-Bronwen Ellis, and her fight with the serious eating disoder. 

The 42-year-old former charity worker said she is "too ill to live a normal life" - weighing roughly four stone and needing a wheelchair to go any distance outside the house.

She fears she is in danger of losing her life.

"Where I am, I am at that dying point now," she told BBC Wales.

"If I don't have help, I am going to die, that's where this brings you to if you don't have help."

The Leader: Amy before and after her weight loss. Amy before and after her weight loss.

Read more about Amy's story here

Amy, from Broughton, is looking to raise enough money to get private treatment via Priory Group - which offers specialist help including, Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) as well as dietetic support, occupational therapy and body image workshops.

These treatments are recommended by NICE guidelines and could give her the best chance of survival. However, they are not among the treatment options currently offered in Wales.

And Saturday's danceathon has raised over £1,000 towards the campaign. 

The Leader:

The event included a raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses and lots of people popped by to join in - without about 50 taking part in total. 

In a video message ahead of the event, an emotional Amy said: "What you're all doing for me is incredible, I never even dreamt people like you existed.

"Not only are you raising money for my treatment, but you're giving all those suffering with eating disorders a voice, spreading awareness.

"I know now that together we can bring it to the forefront and show people that it isn't a life-style choice - it's a serious mental illness that destroys lives and can be fatal."

She added: "From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Anyone wishing to donate to the fundraiser can do so via https://bit.ly/3bpocdt