100 Miles for Marley 💜

This October, I’m taking on the National Autistic Society’s 100 Miles in October challenge and I’m doing it for a reason that is very close to my heart.

For our family, autism isn’t just something we read about or hear about. It is part of our everyday life.

Our son, Marley, joined our family through adoption. He is an amazing, funny, loving and wonderfully individual little boy, and he was recently diagnosed as autistic.

Getting to this point hasn’t always been easy.

Like many families of autistic children, we’ve had to navigate assessments, professionals, education, support services and a system that can sometimes feel incredibly difficult to understand and access. We’ve had to learn how to advocate for Marley and make sure that the people supporting him understand not just his diagnosis, but him, his strengths, his needs and the things that help him thrive.

Marley has now started school and has had lots of ongoing support from charities and other specialist organisations along the way. That support has made a real difference to Marley and to our family.

That’s why the work of the National Autistic Society means so much to me.

The National Autistic Society supports autistic people and their families, campaigns for better understanding and services, and works towards creating a society that works for autistic people.

I know from personal experience that the right support can make an enormous difference.

So, throughout October, I’m going to complete 100 miles for Marley, using a combination of walking, running, swimming and cycling.

That might sound like a lot. And believe me, there will probably be days when I question why I signed myself up for it!

But every mile will have a purpose.

Every £1 raised will help support the work of the National Autistic Society and, ultimately, autistic people and families who are navigating some of the same challenges that we have experienced.

For Marley, I want a world where being autistic doesn’t mean having to fight to be understood.

A world where children get the support they need.

A world where families don’t have to constantly battle to access the right services.

And a world that recognises autism not simply as a list of difficulties, but as part of who someone is, with their own strengths, personality, potential and way of seeing the world.

So I’m walking, running, swimming and cycling 100 miles for Marley. 💜

If you can spare anything at all, I’d be incredibly grateful for your donation. Whether it’s £5, £10 or £50, every donation will help me get closer to my target and will give me a little extra motivation when I’ve still got another few miles to go!

Thank you for supporting me, and more importantly, for supporting autistic people and their families.

100 miles. One month. One very important reason.

💜 For Marley.