My name is Austin and I am 10 years old. I have Tourettes syndrome (TS) and I am aiming to run 100km in a month to raise money for Tourettes Action, a charity that have supported me and my family since my diagnosis.

Tourette’s is a neurological condition that causes uncontrollable movements and sounds, known as tics. Some days my tics don’t bother me as much but other days they can be frequent and severe and cause embarrassment and pain. They are also very distracting and happen at school, when I’m relaxing at home and even when I’m playing football. The only time they don’t happen is when I run so I’m taking part in Move for Tourettes for this years #TourettesAwarenessMonth 👟🏆 Approximately 1 in every 100 children has TS so I have set myself the target of 1 month to run 100k.

Unfortunately in alot of areas there is no NHS funding to support people with TS after diagnosis so Tourettes Action has to fill the gap. They campaign to improve services, provide training to parents and schools, help with essential research and even host residential events so children can meet others living with TS and realise they aren’t alone. Tourettes Action relies on donations to continue its great work so anything you can spare is appreciated 😊

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.