Hello everyone,

I am thrilled to be fundraising for the North East Autism Society's 'Little Stars' appeal which supports autistic toddlers and their families in our region. Our granddaughter, Cora, has recently been diagnosed with autism and sensory processing disorder and the NEAS has been of enormous help and support for us over the last year.

The free toddler group Cora attends provides autistic toddlers with a safe place to play, build confidence and meet other children. The group also provide a vital source of advice, comfort and support for parents/carers. The environment is inclusive, non-judgmental and with only 5 autistic children per group, it is small enough to feel like a family.

The Little Stars appeal is to raise £5,000 to continue to deliver these free toddler groups in 2025. The groups do not receive local authority funding and are run entirely on charitable funds.

One of the Little Stars' fundraising events is 'Jolly Jumper Day' on 12th December and I am going to expand on that and ‘Dress Like an Elf’ from 1st to 26th December inclusive!! That means, quite literally, I will be sleeping in Elf pj’s, and dressing in elf clothes all day, every day for 26 days. I will be undertaking various Elf activities and posting photos on this page. I will be out and about in Newcastle and Gateshead, so if you see me, give me a wave in support! Some of the events will include Cora who will also be dressed like Grandma Elf.

This cause is incredibly close to my heart. Cora loves going to the toddler group and the children are a delight and do lots of funny things so what better way to reflect that than by doing something fun such as dressing like an Elf.

My goal is to raise £750 for this important cause and your generous donation will directly contribute to enhancing the lives of these toddlers with autism and their families. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will make a difference.

I am truly grateful for any support you can offer. Thank you for considering a donation towards this cause.