Carly’s bid to find her real dad
ASOUTHPORT woman has launched a social media appeal to track down her biological father.
Carly Tierney wants nothing more than to find her dad, but she says the hunt isn’t the result of adoption or any usual parental search.
Bodybuilder Carly spent more than three decades believing her real father was the man she grew up with. But just weeks ago, her mum revealed the heartbreaking truth.
She said: “I’ve just, at the age of 33, found out my ‘dad’ is not my real dad - and my mum won’t tell me who my father is.”
Carly, who now lives in South Yorkshire, won her first bodybuilding crown after successfully battling eating disorders for more than 15 years.
Bodybuilding enabled her to overcome both bulimia and anorexia in an incredible transformation.
She said: “A lot of people will know, I’ve had a challenging life and I tried to take my life several times as a teenager.
“My issues around a lack of identity, insecurity, isolation and my feeling of ‘not belonging’ suddenly start to make more sense after this revelation.
“Since I found out, a family friend has told me I met my biological father when I was around 13 or 14 but I have no recollection of this.
“After a lot of soulsearching I decided to reach out to try and find [my father]. He will know my mother because she is half Chinese and has always lived in Southport.”
Carly was born on June 10, 1983 at what was then the Christiana Hartley Maternity Hospital in Southport. Her mum was 18 years old at the time.
Her mum worked at Prince of Wales Hotel, Mellors bakery and Pizza Land. She attended Ainsdale High school and Southport College.
Carly said: “I will treat any and all information given to me with total privacy.
“I have thought long and hard about doing this because I know it could upset some family members, but that’s not my intention.
“I just want some peace of mind and some closure.”
If you have any information you think could help Carly, call Visiter reporter Kate Lally on 01704 398249 or email visiternews@ southportvisiter.co.uk