Story
This year, we will do a 20km run in 24 hours as an Autism Family during World Autism Awareness Week in April 2024 because we want to raise autism acceptance, awareness and understanding of mental health in autism. This has been a difficult year for Brendan with severe anxieties, OCD, self-harm and mental health challenges. We hope this would encourage him this year as he was initially reluctant and we agreed this year the sporting challenge is much decreased compared to last 10+ years due to his severe anxieties. Do read our story and support if you can
Our Story:
We have been fundraising and raising Autism Awareness and Acceptance for the past 15 years to help change attitudes and to transform lives for autistic people and the National Autistic Society as long term members of the society. We even have our beloved dog M, trained as B's pet therapy dog joining in most of the challenges. Last year, we have raised over £4000.00 and we have been fundraising each year raising over £80,000 for autism.
Brendan was diagnosed with high level support/severe autism at age 2 and was non-verbal until he was 9 years old. Today, he struggles with speech, verbal dyspraxia, learning disabilities, ADHD, severe anxiety, self harm and depression and aspects of daily living. He attends an autism special needs Arden College in Southport
His brother Darren a strong advocate and fundraiser as an autism sibling was born with congenital deafness and has been featured in the BBC for scoring the highest MENSA score.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-merseyside-47834194
His sister Corinne, a passionate advocate for autism has been featured in BBC's Blue Peter on TV for talking about Autism and her original poem as an autism-sibling
https://www.merchanttaylors.com/junior-girls-news/corinne-awarded-5th-blue-peter-badge/
Muffin our pet therapy dog has been been in the papers and regularly visits hospitals, special needs schools and hospices
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3076283182396977&id=716348768390442
Ours is a family autism journey where we will continue to support Brendan and raise awareness and acceptance for better autism inclusion. In recent years, mental health challenges has affected our lives as Brendan became a young adult.
'A Journey With Brendan' written by mom, Professor May Ng OBE, a multi award winning paediatrician documents 10 years of a life journey as Brendan's mother, through the wilderness of diagnosis, interventions, advice and the continuing battle for support. It has lots of practical advice and resources for families living with autism and you can read more about it here:
http://www.paedsdoc.co.uk/page7.html
Over 800 books have been donated to charities and schools in UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Phillipines and South-east Asia. In 2022, Professor May Ng was awarded an OBE by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for Services to people with diabetes and people with autism and disabilities