THE mother of a Co Down woman who died after a seven-year battle with bulimia has launched a fundraising campaign to open Northern Ireland's first dedicated therapy centre to help others.
Killyleagh woman Sharon Bridges yesterday revealed her plans for The Sophie Bridges Foundation which is planning to set up `Sophie's Lighthouse' in Newcastle.
The mother-of-four has launched a fundraising drive to raise £250,000 to fund the plans for the centre which, will not only offer help to young people with eating disorders and addictions but, will also focus on survivors of sexual abuse or violence.
The centre would also provide respite and support for their families.
The aim is for the residential holistic-style centre to operate on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year, offering art and music therapy, drama therapy, dance, yoga, meditation, creative writing, horticultural and animal therapy and with a focus on counselling and talk therapies.
Mrs Bridges launched the plans yesterday two months after the death of her daughter, who was a former pupil at Assumption Grammar in Ballynahinch.
Sophie, who had battled anorexia and later bulimia for seven years, was found dead in her bedroom on Saturday, March 17, after suffering a heart attack.
Her mother claimed the health system had repeatedly failed her 21 year-old daughter, who had experienced problems from the age of 14.
She said the only service offered as help was the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Belfast, but the family did not feel this was enough.
On two occasions in 2009 doctors told Mrs Bridges that her daughter had just weeks to live as her organs were shutting down.
Her then teenage daughter continued to battle the illness but in 2016, she suffered a sexual assault in Co Down.
A man was later convicted in relation to the attack.
Having spent her 21st birthday last April in hospital, Sophie had hoped to celebrate her 22nd this year at home but passed away in mid-March.
Mrs Bridges, who revealed her daughter "never once received one counselling session", said more needed to be done to help young people with eating disorders.
Speaking to the Irish News last night, Mrs Bridges said she was hoping people would "come on board" and support the fundraising campaign.
"I want to give people somewhere to go because there's isn't anything available in the health service," she said.
"Whenever I looked for Sophie, the only option was England and it's extremely expensive.You're talking way above what a normal person can afford to do."
She added: "I want it to be a home from home. The reason I picked Newcastle is because it's a very beautiful area. The sea and mountains are very healing."
Mrs Bridges said she was trying to focus on "something positive".
"I just want to do it in Sophie's memory because she did touch a lot of young lives," she said.
"She was very vibrant and artistic and I would like the centre to reflect that and her personality. Since her loss, people have contacted me to say how much she had helped them so I want that to continue really in her memory."
Donations to The Sophie Bridges Foundation can be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sharon-bridges.
