Completing the 2024 London Marathon was a hard but magical experience that will stay with me forever. In the euphoric days after the event, I along with 840,317 other people, entered the public ballot for a 2025 London Marathon place … amazingly, I was one of the 17,000 picked and I get to experience that fantastic day and marathon training block all over again. My 2024 race day went perfectly and far exceeded my original time expectations, so I’m a little nervous about taking on my 2nd marathon; but I’m looking forward to the challenge and feel so privileged to have this opportunity.

This year I have chosen to run for Rugby Autism Network (RAN) <https://rugbyautismnetwork.co.uk> (Registered Charity Number: 1167710) and I hope you will join me in assisting their efforts to support over 300 autistic individuals (under the age of 25) and their families in our area (our son Jasper, aged 7 and us included). RAN have been the charity that has helped us the most throughout Jasper’s and our autism awareness journey. Be this with practical peer support, social get togethers with others who also “get it and live it” in an understanding and none judgemental environment (sadly it can be a lonely experience at times, as a parent to a child with additional needs), funding to help towards parking at local country parks, bespoke family days out in the summer, workshops for parents & carers, autism education courses and the use of an autism lending library of books, equipment and resources. RAN has also held soft play sessions at Purple Planet, worked with Rugby Theatre to provide a special panto performance and offers regular parent/carer support meet ups.

RAN is fully run by volunteers, is free to join, individuals just need to be diagnosed autistic or be seeking an autism assessment. In 2023, their positive impact to so many in our local community over the last 15 years, was formally recognised when they were award The Kings Award for Voluntary Service. The equivalent of a lifetime MBE for voluntary organisations and RAN were one of only 262 organisations around the UK to be honoured by King Charles III in his inaugural annual awards.

Therefore, I’m hoping you’ll join me on my 2nd marathon training journey (eeek!!!) and in helping to support the one charity that I always vowed I would use a London Marathon ballot place for, if I was ever lucky enough to gain one. The first part has been achieved and I’m hoping that with your support, we can help raise vital funds and promote the work of Rugby Autism Network in benefiting so many in our area.

Marathon training definitely won’t be easy … but thinking of Jasper and the struggles he and many Autistic individuals face and try to overcome daily, will definitely spur me on when the miles get tough. Hopefully I'll make him proud and show him that anything is possible.

Thank you for reading and for assisting my journey to the finish line of the 2025 London Marathon - together we can achieve great things.

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