Thanks for all your donations, they are very greatly appreciated!!

Allow me to introduce myself my name is Ian Humm, I am 22 years old from Colchester, I work in Debenhams as a cleaner for Rentokill Initial in Colchester... I have dyspraxia I give you an introduction in what Dyspraxia is. Dyspraxia is also called developmental co-oridnation disorder, which use to be called Clumsy child syndrome. It is a neurological disorder that causes motor learning difficulties as a well as problems of perception, sensory, language and thought. Dyspraxia -- "defined by the Dyspraxia Foundation as "an impairment or immaturity of the organization of movement" -- causes extreme clumsiness, as well as poor balance, posture and coordination, poor short-term memory, poor organizational skills, and difficulty with both fine and gross motor skills. Many dyspraxic children are also dyslexic, and about 60 percent of children with dyspraxia also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Although they may struggle in school, many dyspraxia patients are of average and even above-average intelligence." Dyspraxiafoundation.com

"The real-life consequences for an adult with dyspraxia may span many areas. The National Center for Learning Disabilities identifies some of these areas of difficulty, including driving a car; completing chores; cooking; grooming; writing; typing; control of volume, pitch and articulation of speech; and problems with consistent perception, such as light, touch, taste, space and smell. Further consequences of dyspraxia include development of low self-esteem associated with the many life difficulties faced and mental health problems." Livestrong.com

Now I am going to tell you about myself... I used to be a kid self destructive in his own body, my brain when I was child couldn't process information as well as it does now, I was very sensitive to sensory information I use to be very sensitive of bright lights, background noise and loud noises... With also have speech difficulties, I couldn't say what was wrong with me... Which led too me being a very frustrated kid, with people around me not knowing also how to help me... I wasn't able to tie up my laces to a very late age, dress myself, I didn't like loud sounding places, I had to go home countless times from watching my home football team Colchester Unitied football matches before even half time because I couldn't take the noise anymore... I wasn't able to write in a straight line to I was about 11, I didn't like going out to restaurants because I had to use a knife and fork and felt embrassed that I had to have my food still cut up for me when I was 12... I spent many of my school years in one to one teaching or small groups, where I would thrive much better in these conditions than I did when I sat in classroom conditions, eventually I was learning so well, that I decided I did not need one to one, which lead me back into classroom conditions, where I would go back into territory where my brain couldn't cope. I am a slow and messy writer, who finds it hard to remember everything as I have a very short term memory... Commonly being misunderstood as a lazy clumsy kid I couldn't concentrate in classroom conditions, there was too much noise to distract me.. Eventually I did give up in my mind, as I was never understood and leave secondary mainstream school being proud that I was just able to cope, to even finish...

I have over the years progressed and have learnt to adapt around my problems to grow into an adult, not albeit with a lot of help through Mencap, and having a very understanding boss, who has worked around my problems by taking time with me to learn everything “co ordination wise”. I still to a degree have sensory problems when its get too busy, I can't process everything which is going on any more... Over the last 3years I have managed to raise my self confidence and battle against my problems, rather than let peoples put downs. Since then I have had the help of Mencap, who have helped me a lot with finding a job, my personal well being, which managed to lead into work experience at Debehams as a cleaner then eventually into my first job as a part time cleaner for Rentokill Initial at Equity Insurance. My first day ended in tears, as I couldn't remember anything which was being told of me or wasn't able to hold anything correctly... I quit on the very first day, luckily my boss understood my problems, and was like Ian I'm don't want you to quit, your very hardworking and you can have all the time in the world to learn.. The next day I was back and had a support worker with me this time, gradually over a month, I was able to remember a few jobs, eventually 6months later I was working on my own without any assistance and from there on then I kept on learning different ways to learn and learning about myself... I manage to get another job with Rentokil a part time job in the morning... Eventually I lead myself in to Debenhams covering someone who was off, which eventually lead me getting my wish of a part time job there, which I was ecstatic about at the time.. After keep working harder and harder, I managed to get employee of the month at Debenhams, which was no small achievement, as the last cleaner to get it was about 5years before me! Then I got my biggest wish of last year, being offered a full time job to work there as a cleaner... Since my first day of work my confidence has grown hugely and has got me thinking of new ideas to achieve... I have proved a lot of people wrong about me, and I am very happy about that...

This year I'm going to embark on a huge challenge for myself... I am raising money for Dyspraxia Foundation, which is of course the charity is very personal too me... I am going to go to America on my own in a group of people I don't know, which is pretty much a big challenge in its self for me... I am a keen cyclist after accomplishing the skill of cycling. I will be cycling through DEATH VALLEY 420kms, which I think be will very hard for me... Dyspraxia foundation is the only charity which helps people with dyspraxia. It helps to indenitfy and understand the problem associated with dyspraxia. Its helps with diagnostics for people, help with everyday life, helps create support groups for dyspraxia people to meet each other.... Its website is the main source for families of sufferers, sufferers, employees and employers. The charity has no government grants, it relies solely upon memberships and donations. As of present has had to close its help lines because of funding cuts, it has had to launch a campaign to raise urgently needed funds so the charity can continue to work. Closing the helpline means its cut a crucial first point for many families desperate for information and support. I think this is wrong and something should be done, so I am doing the challenge to help as much as possible. I wonder though how long the funds I raise will last...

"We currently receive in excess of 10,000 telephone enquiries per year and over 15,000 emails asking for information and support. As soon as our future becomes clearer we will make plans to relaunch the helpline. In the meantime we are asking our local groups to provide what support they can and will keep everyone updated with the latest news on our position on our website.

"We are appealing for fundraising from all avenues. Donations can be made through the website www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk and we are encouraging membership to increase our core funding. We are a small charity with just one part time and three full time employees providing administration support and rely on membership subscription, fundraising and grants to provide much needed information and support for people affected by dyspraxia and those who live or work with them." www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

They directed me into all the right places, and gave information to my family in how too deal with me better without this guidance the problems remain unanswered and become worse for sufferer ... Which is the whole reason why i want to raise lots of funds for them... If you would like to email dyspraxiafoundation for enquires here is there email dyspraxia@dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk...

What I really hope out of all of this is for dyspraxia to be recognized more in the public eye... Essentiallly I would like Dyspraxia Foundation being given the recognision they deserve for helping people like myself in the same circumstances, also for the time i needed help for the people who need that same help as well. Just because the condition is relatively unknown, does this justify either no government funding or zero interest from the medical profession. All charities I believe, should have at least a first base for call for families, sufferers in distress. This is where at the moment, I think this is fundamentally wrong and cannot stay that way... I will be doing everything in my power to raise more awarenesses of this condition.

Kind regards

Ian Humm