Wow - this hits different! It’s taken me a bit of time to be able to even approach writing this. Here I am again, fundraising for a very worthy cause, Scottish Autism, part of which will go to Dundee Connections.

Okay that was the easy bit 🙊

After what can only be described as an incredibly challenging few years personally, I have recently been confirmed as being autistic. There I said it.

Why Scottish Autism/ Dundee Connections

The support I personally received at Dundee Connections has not only been invaluable but helped pull me out of some incredibly dark places in these latter times. I’m still trying to figure out my words around all of this, so please bear with me as I do. I will keep you posted and update as I work this out.

Hopefully, it is enough to know that services such as Scottish Autism/ Dundee Connections are invaluable. In simple terms, they SAVE lives.

What will I be Doing

So, perhaps the more juicy bit for some of you: 👹

I will be taking on the Rat Race: Edinburgh Castle to Glamis Castle 100 miler on the weekend of the 25th July 2026.

https://www.ratrace.com/events/rat-race-100-edinburgh/

We have 48 hours to travel the beautiful scenery of Fife. Oooft!

Every time I write that I feel a shiver of fear 😱

As I do this challenge and the training over the next 8 weeks in the lead up, I hope to highlight and bring awareness to what this might be like as an autistic runner and person. Please keep in mind that this is my experience only.

I will be utilising the tag - #100storiesfor100miles

For me, it’s about more than the fundraising it’s also about building understanding, not just awareness, to the experiences and lives of autistic people. With understanding maybe we can be just a little bit more accommodating and accepting of different. By being more understanding and accepting, just maybe YOU can change the life of someone you know.

Kindness and compassion cost nothing but they mean the world.

#100storiesfor100miles

It is my hope to collate 100 stories from autistic individuals from the community, there are no pre-requisites here. Your story, your way.

Whether you write a short paragraph, a couple of lines, maybe a quote or a poem, perhaps draw a picture or even have a photograph that shows your life. Maybe it’s communicated using an AAC devic or signing or using makaton.

Your story can be whatever feels meaningful to you. It might be a message to your autistic self, or to an autistic family member or friend. It could be a reflection on embracing difference, or on why it’s so important that autistic voices continue to lead change and shape what we do at Scottish Autism.

There’s no right or wrong way to share your story. What matters most is that it comes from you.

Every contribution helps celebrate autistic voices while supporting Louise on her incredible 100-mile journey.

Can you help share the voice of an autistic individual?

Please send your story to fundraising@scottishautism.org

Thank you for your support