Did you know that over 50% of children like me with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder have to wait more than a year to get the specialist help they need with their learning?

This year, the National Autistic Society are inviting people to swim, cycle or run 7km for the 700,000 people in this country living with Autism. I've decided to do all three - in one day - as a triathlon, swimming, cycling and running 7km of each discipline.

I'm doing this now because since 2016 I have been educated at home, whilst my Dad and Step-Mum have been trying to secure me an Education, Health and Care Plan to help me with my learning. This process is meant to take 20 weeks but has taken us 18 months so far. Whilst this has been difficult, being at home has meant I have been able to train regularly for my adventures. In particular I want to do the swim as a way of saying 'thank you' to my swimming teachers, Becki and Glenn, and other members of staff at the gym, who have put extra special effort into helping teach me to swim - something I couldn't do when I moved to Wellingborough two years ago and which I now enjoy doing most days.

I am expecting the swim to take me about four hours or so, the cycle about 20 minutes and the run, I am not sure about, because I don't do much running and have never run anywhere near that far!

I'm hoping to raise at least £10 for each kilometre I cover (note: target now doubled due to tremendous generosity so far! Thank you!), to help the National Autistic Society speak up for families like mine and help us to get the specialist help we need, until everyone understands. Please give generously!

You can find out more about my adventures online @Thomas_Ivor on Twitter, and at our family's website, www.familybycycle.uk

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