My name is Alex Round. In May 2012 I will be starting an expedition to climb Mount McKinley (20,320 ft) in Alaska, one of the Seven Summits. I have so far climbed Aconcagua (22,830 ft) in Argentina and Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft) in Tanzania. It is my ambition one day to have climbed the highest mountain on all seven continents.
My previous expeditions were personal adventures motivated by personal ambition. However, I have come to realise the immense power that challenges like these have as fundraising opportunities. I am delighted to be able to use my next mountaineering challenge as a fundraising opportunity for the National Autistic Society (NAS).
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people and the world around them. Those of you who know me personally will be aware that my younger sister suffers with Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism. Others visiting my page might well have relatives or friends who are affected by autism.
Autism is often said to be an invisible disability. This means that those who live with it are not obviously disabled in a physical way and that the disability manifests itself in behaviour. In many ways, it is a social disability.
There are varying degrees of severity within the autistic spectrum but many people living with autism are perfectly capable of leading happy and independent lives. Tolerance, understanding and a little patience are essential ingredients in helping people with autism get to this stage however.
My expedition to Alaska to climb Mount McKinley is going to be a huge struggle. It will not compare however to the struggle that many people living with autism face on a day to day basis. Please sponsor my challenge and support the National Autistic Society so that understanding of autism can be spread and that support can be given to those who need it the most.
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ANOTHER FUNDRAISING UPDATE
I am now in my second month of fundraising for the National Autistic Society which I am doing in conjunction with my third seven summits expedition to climb Mount McKinley in Alaska (third mountain - not third attempt to climb McKinley!) As of today (16th August 2011) my grand total stands at £1209.78 (that's almost £35 per day!). This total includes: - £655.00 of online donations (JustGiving - www.justgiving.com/climbingforautism) - £388.78 from public fundraising events (generous customers at ASDA in Stowmarket, Suffolk) - £22.00 of mobile donations (JustTextGiving - text "DNAS77 £1" to 70070 to donate £1) - Gift Aid supplement £144.00 (assuming everyone has paid enough tax etc) But what does all this mean for the NAS? Here is a list of things that the NAS can now do with this money. £15 will pay for a helpline counsellor to send information on autism support to five worried parents. £1210 will pay for information on autism support to be sent to over 400 worried parents. £25 will pay for the first stage of training a 'Befriender' who work to support families with autism. £1210 will pay for almost 50 'Befrienders' to begin their training. £50 will give 10 people access to the NAS's telephone helpline, a crucial service for supporting children and families with autism. £1210 will give over 240 people access to this service. £75 will pay for 3 families to attend an 'Earlybird Program' which provides support for pre-school children with autism. £1210 will pay for almost 50 families to attend. £100 could help pay for a full diagnosis of a child at a NAS assessment centre. £1210 could help pay for 12 such diagnoses. £500 will pay for gardening equipment for up to 50 adults at one of the NAS adult centres. £1210 could get 120 adults with autism gardening away! £1000 will replace play equipment for over 50 children at one of the NAS schools. £1210 will cover that, and some £2500 will give a person with Asperger Syndrome the opportunity to gain full time supported employment with companies registered with this excellent NAS scheme such as Boots, HSBC, Marks & Spencer and BT. £1210 is almost half way there Obviously the NAS will decide where the money goes but here is just a flavour of the sort of things they could do to drastically enhance the life prospects for so many people living with autism. If you have donated online, by text or in the street, you can feel very proud of where your money has gone. For more - visit www.climbingforautism.co.uk
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FUNDRAISING UPDATE
On Friday 5th August 2011 I made a total spectacle of myself at ASDA in Stowmarket as I set about raising money for the National Autistic Society.
From 9am until just after 3pm I climbed uphill on a treadmill with a pack and covered a distance of over 40km, simulating the uphill struggle of a mountaineering ascent and referring to the difficulties 500,000 people in the UK face living with autism.
Through talking to the local shoppers in Stowmarket I was able to raise the profile of the charity. But something that struck me was how clued up the majority of people were about autism. On many many occasions I was approached by people saying things like "my son" or "my grandchild" or even "I suffer with autism" or indeed "I/someone I know work(s) with children with autism.
Autism touches so many people's lives.
I was also struck by the generosity of the everyday shopper, especially in times which are financially very difficult for many people and in particular for those of pensionable age who by my estimates accounted for somewhere between 50% and 60% of all benefactors on the day.
Working out at something like £1 per minute I was able to raise a total of £388.78 on the day, contributing to today's current total of £1000.78 and a further £130.25 in gift aid supplements (10th August 2011). This represents a months work and there are many more to come.
I'm pretty sure this is what the Prime Minister was talking about when he was advocating his idea of a Big Society. Everyday people on the street are sympathetic to good causes and will make contributions. Contrary to the images of thuggery, selfish violence and poisonous greed being shown on our televisions this week (Re. London Riots) it is evident that this country is full of good people who genuinely care about the welfare of others.
I would like to thank the generous shoppers of Stowmarket and in particular ASDA for allowing me to promote this great cause and further my campaign to make a difference for people with autism.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
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 and donate now.
