The Priory Group is encouraging budding young authors to enter a national non-fiction writing competition aimed at highlighting mental and physical health issues among young people and in particular eating disorders.
The Priory Ryan McKay prize is awarded each year to the young person aged between 13 and 18 who submits the best non-fiction composition on a set topic related to mental and physical health. The subject for 2009 is ‘Happy with the skin you are in’ and the winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize.
Ryan McKay was successfully treated at the Priory Hospital Glasgow for an eating disorder but tragically died in a car accident in August 2007. His parents, who live in Buckie a small town between Aberdeen and Inverness, decided to honour his memory by working with the Priory Group to raise awareness of positive mental and physical health among young people, who are most at risk of eating disorders.
Robert McKay, Ryan’s father said: “We wanted to find an appropriate and fitting way to use Ryan’s memory to help other young people who may be suffering with an eating disorder in the same way Ryan did.
“The help and treatment Ryan received at the Priory Hospital Glasgow was invaluable to us as a family and we are pleased to work with them in this way to highlight the problems that can be faced by young people, particularly in relation to eating disorders.”
Matthew Franzidis, chief operating officer at the Priory Group said: “This is a wonderful way to remember Ryan and we are grateful to his parents for their support.
“We hope that the competition will help to stimulate debate amongst young people and encourage those who feel they need help or advice to come forward and discuss their problems. The standard of entries is always very high and I anticipate a similar response this year.”
Typed double-spaced entries should be emailed to prioryryanmckayprize@priorygroup.com. The deadline is Aug 31 2009 and more information is available at www.priorygroup.com/prioryryanmckayprize.