Update: It was an amazing day at the marathon yesterday. The hot weather made for a hard run but the crowds and sights carried me along. Thank you to all of you for your donations xx

I'm going to be running the London Marathon on 27th April 2025 and hope to raise some money for a charity called Romsey Mill. Their Aspire programme supports children and young adults with autistic spectrum disorders. My son Sami, who is 17, has been going to Aspire youth clubs since he was 12. The clubs are run by wonderfully kind Romsey Mill staff and volunteers and have been a really important part of Sami's life, especially because he has made friends at Aspire.

More information about Romsey Mill

Romsey Mill is a charity committed to overcoming disadvantage, challenging injustice and promoting social inclusion with young people, children and families. Each year, we work with over 2,000 individuals and families, from Cambridge city and across areas of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, including:

• young mothers and fathers

• young people on the margins of society who may be involved in risky or anti-social behaviour

• young people struggling to engage fully with education

• families with pre-school children

• young people with an autistic spectrum condition

Our work is long term, relational and needs led. We work with participants to develop their skills and to enable their progress towards training, work and positive involvement in the community.

Aspire delivers youth clubs and support, in Cambridge city, South Cambridgeshire and Peterborough city, for autistic children and young people. Our clubs reduce social isolation and improve the mental wellbeing of those who attend. We currently support around 200 children and young people through our clubs and 1:1 support.

Young people who have benefited from our support told us:

“I have found my people”

“I have learned a wide variety of social skills”

“I have become more independent and confident over my years of attending”

“It's really lovely to be able to meet and socialise with people who have similar challenges and can relate to my experiences. I feel much less alone.”

When asked recently:

90% of autistic children and young people feel the youth club gives them a place to belong and feel less lonely

85% feel the youth club makes them feel more cheerful or happy

76% feel that attending the youth club improves the child’s confidence

81% say they have made a friend at the youth club