UPDATE:20/4/11

LonDONE! Wow, that was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Nothing will ever fully prepare you for how hard it is. I finished in 3hours 55minutes and 55 seconds, well under my target :)

Absolutely massive thank you to everyone who has helped support my fundraising, donated or offered the moral support that was definitely needed along the way. I never expected any of it to go this well. All of your money and efforts will go to a great charity and help support those whose lives are affected by autism, just like my brothers and for that, I'll be forever grateful. Oli x

 

Yo! Alright! Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

This page is dedicated to my London Marathon run for the National Autistic Society in April 2011.

Firstly, if you're thinking, why am I running the marathon? Ultimately, I want to make a difference. Living with a younger brother with autism is not something I'd ever swap. Nor would I ever want to turn down a perfect cover to watch Winnie the Pooh endlessly. However, living with him makes you really aware of just how restricting autism can be to his everyday life. I am currently on my gap year and running the London Marathon is a perfect way to do something both rewarding for myself and something that will contribute to all those affected by autism, like my brother.
Autism is a disability that remains largely unknown and there is yet to be a cure discovered. The National Autistic Society aims to support the half a million people diagnosed with autism and those close to them, to ensure that autism is understood. It also aims to support those with autism in leading the life that they choose. It is for these reasons that I chose to run on behalf of the NAS and would appreciate any contribution you are able to make!

To give you a tangible idea of where your money would go and how it would be used, here are some examples:

£50 – Would mean that ten people can use the NAS Autism Helpline, a service giving vital support to people with autism and their families.

£100 – Would pay for a full diagnosis of a child at an NAS assessment centre.

£500 – Would pay for gardening equipment for up to 50 adults at one of the NAS adult centres.

£1,000 – Would replace play equipment for over 50 children at one of our schools.

£2,500 – Would give a person with Asperger syndrome the opportunity for full-time supported employment with companies such as Boots, HSBC, M&S and BT.

The minimum target to fundraise is £1,600. I would be extremely grateful for any donations that you can make and hopefully I can raise as much money for the NAS as possible and more!

 

Thank you,

 

Oli Monks