Thank you very much for taking the time to visit my web page, in October 2010 I am going to "Trek the Great Wall of China" in aid of the National Autistic Society and there is a very personal reason for doing this.

In June 2009 my son Joshua, who is 5 years old, was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism. Very little is known on what causes Autism but speaking as a parent I know that it takes your parenting skills to a whole new level having an autistic child. We have to deal with it every day and it is a condition that he will not grow out of - he has it for life. Josh can struggle with understanding the world around him, he can find it difficult to communicate and show empathy, he dislikes crowds and loud noises - despite being noisy himself but responds to rountine & structure.

However, he is though the most loving little boy anyone could wish for, who brings laughter and sunshine into our lives every day, the only things he wants out of life is to play Rugby (no preference in Bradford Bulls or London Irish!), be a Fireman and have a Dalmatian dog called Brewster.

The National Autistic Society champions the rights and interests of all people with autism and aims to provide individuals with autism and their families with help, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon and which can make a positive difference to their lives.  Throughout their lives.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep, no matter how small as it will make a difference - thank you x