I have known John for 6 years; he used to come to a creative writing group I ran and his stories were always vivid and often included his friends.

His desire for everyone to be happy and at peace shone through. He copes with a lot. He is learning disabled, has severe autism and problems managing his mood and behaviour, and some of this is related to a brain tumour he had. He would sometimes get upset in the writing group and I was always interested and impressed in the way he self-soothed and would soon be okay.

I feel that sometimes we over complicate things and some of the ways John sees things, for me, cuts through that. When I had the chance to help some people make their own book I jumped at the chance to work with John again.

We have had excellent feedback from the book, people who have read it have said that it has made them understand both life and people who are learning disabled more and it has enriched their own coping skills and view of the world.

I really want as many people as possible to read John's book, he worked incredibly hard on it and it is a great achievement. Any money you donate will be greatly received, it is okay if it is not very much, we understand how skint we all are at the moment.

Lots of love,

Jackie Hagan
Seymour Poets