Hello!
I'm running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Ambitious about Autism on October 9th. One in a hundred children has autism. It is a complex, lifelong neurological condition and has a profound impact both on people with autism and their families:
- One in five children with autism have been excluded from school, the majority of those on more than one occasion.
- Many families with autism live in poverty as it costs on average three times more to raise a child with a severe impairment than a non-disabled child.
- Families with autism often do not get the right support putting them under immense strain. It has been estimated that up to 80% of parents of children with autism split up. In a UK study of families with autism one in three were lone parents.
You can read more on the Ambitious about Autism website.
Autism is frequently misrepresented by the media and overlooked at these kind of events in favour of more popular causes. I think this makes it a great cause to raise money for!
Please dig in your pocket and chuck me a few quid if you can. I will thank you by sending you photos of me collapsing at the finish line.
Cheers :)
