Hi! My name's Katie, and I am 14 years old. I took up running in the first lockdown. I want to raise money for the NAS by running 500km over the next few months.

My little brother Johnny is on the autistic spectrum. This affects how he understands and interacts with the world around him. He is funny, outgoing, and he has an amazing memory and eye for detail. But life can often be really hard for him due to his difficulties with social understanding and communication, his need for predictability and routine, his sensory sensitivities, his demand avoidance, and his anxiety.

The NAS is a really helpful source of advice and support to autistic people and to families like ours. They also raise awareness, and campaign for businesses, shops and leisure facilities to be more autism-friendly. Society needs more awareness and understanding of autistic children and adults. Simple adjustments for people like my little brother can make all the difference in helping them to cope and take part in activities that most of us take for granted.

Thanks for taking the time to read my story.

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