I am taking on the 2025 London Marathon for Sense, who support children like our Henry.

Having a child with complex needs changed our family’s life in many ways. Our life has become restricted, limited, intense and looks exceptionally different to a neurotypical family. That said, our life is now filled with more laughter, patience and understanding. Henry is my little shadow.

My dedicated social media on Instagram and TikTok: @Ourlittleautismlife

You will find an insight into our life, how the marathon training is going, and raising awareness of Autism and ADHD.

My Why...

I am taking on those 26.2 miles for my non-verbal son Henry (5), my daughter Grace (15) and every Autistic person and their families.

March last year (2024) Henry was diagnosed with:

- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with significant social communication interaction difficulties

- Sensory sensitivities

- Developmental delay - speech language delay, delayed play skills and motor skills

He also suffers with ARFID - Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Which means Henry avoids all foods, except Ryvita Crackerbread and milk.

I knew Henry was experiencing life differently to my other children from around 11 months old. He would shuffle from foot to foot watching TV for hours and lost his ability to say "Dad" and "Mum" overnight.

He said “Mum” to me once and I haven’t heard it again.

So why do I want to run for Sense?

Upon realising Henry was different, I began reading into Autism, and this is where I found Sense.

Their website covered everything I needed to know about Autism and complex disabilities, and it is because of them that I arranged for Henry to see his Health Visitor for an Autism Assessment referral when he was 14 months old.

Sense also helped me navigate applying for an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) assessment for Henry so that we can hopefully get him in to a special school. If we are met with a fight from our local authority it will be Sense that I turn to for guidance.

Upon reading Sense's website I came to realise that my eldest daughter, Grace (15), has presented as autistic since she was a baby. However due to my lack of awareness of autism and the fact that she was verbal and seemingly hitting all of her milestones with no difficulty, her other difficulties were overlooked.

Sense highlighted that autistic girls often fly under the radar because they often express their autistic traits in more subtle ways.

Sense was my go-to place in one of my toughest periods of life.

- I felt uncertainty surrounding my son and his needs and our future.

- I felt grief for the difficulties my son was potentially going to face for the rest of his life.

- I felt guilt for not realising my daughter was autistic sooner.

However Sense believe that together we can unlock barriers to communication so no one is isolated, left out or unable to fulfil their potential.

Sense offer so much...

- Virtual buddying so that disabled children can make friends remotely

- Short breaks

- Sense Holidays providing carer's and volunteers

- Sports and Wellbeing activities

- Advice covering everything from welfare rights, to disabilities and conditions, to education, to transitioning into adulthood with a disability.

Here's the bit where I ask for your money...

Please donate whatever you can afford and when you can't donate, please share this page as often as you can with everyone you know.

Thank you for helping me reach my London Marathon goal.