A MOTHER of a former patient has donated £853 to the St Aubyn Centre as a thank you for the treatment her daughter received there.

The St Aubyn Centre is a mental health inpatient facility in Colchester for young people aged between 13 and 18 years.

Claire Scott cycled from London to Paris to raise money for the St Aubyn Centre which is run by North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP).

The gruelling journey of 359 miles took four days to complete and was supported by Global Adventures.

Claire said: “I decided to do the London to Paris bike ride to raise funds for a good cause, the St Aubyn Centre.

"My journey actually started seven years ago when my daughter was just 11 years old. She was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, severe anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia.

"It was a very difficult time for my family and I as my daughter became an inpatient on five separate occasions. Most of which were at Longview, now known as the St Aubyn Centre.

"It was a very long road to recovery and I wanted to thank all the staff for the love and support they showed my daughter who is now enjoying life and looking forward to her journalism course later this year.

"I still can't believe I managed to cycle all the way to Paris. It was the toughest experience of my life but worth all the effort for an amazing cause. There were days when the temperature reached 33 degrees Celsius.”

Claire's itinerary saw her cycle from Croydon to Calais, to Lens, then onto Compiegne.

On day four she finished at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Christopher Butler, Interim Chief Executive at NEP, said: “Thank you Claire for all your efforts and for a generous donation. It’s good to know that we have made a difference to your daughter’s life and she is much better and looking forward to the future.

"The St Aubyn Centre is a remarkable place, the staff there are doing excellent work in helping young people recover from illness and get back on their feet.”