Lauren Barcroft
Lauren's Virgin London Marathon 2015 page
Fundraising for National Autistic Society
Story
On Sunday 26th April of this year, I will be taking on my biggest challenge yet. Running 26.2 miles in the London Marathon. The thing spurring me on the most about this run is the fact I will be running on behalf of the National Autistic society and more importantly my pal Connie. Connie is 5 and the daughter of my best friend Sasha and her husband Joel. She has big sister Lois and younger brother and sister Sid and Eliza. This family appear like any other family . Hectic, loving and if anything a bit crazy. One difference is that Connie has been diagnosed with autism. She is non verbal and developmentally delayed. This for my pals, make chores and regimes and day to day life a lot harder. However things in the Davis household appear to go on as normal although I know a lot of things have to be adapted changed or sacrificed just to get through the day. Not that they ever moan about this, for them life is how it is but I know for them a little bit of support and advice goes a long way and helps with certain struggles. This is where the National autistic society comes in. They ensure those suffering with autism get the right, advice and support including offering it to their families.
In sometimes difficult situations or when those affected by autism are lost, stressed or at breaking point National Autistic society are there to offer help. Around 700,000 people in the UK have autism. Together with their families they make up around 2.8 million people whose lives are touched by autism every single day. This fact alone proves how much the work of this charity is needed. I know this support is of great help to my pals. Therefore I am on a mission to raise the required £1800 for my gold bond space in the London Marathon. Being a part of a family affected by a disorder, I know how hard it can be to talk or look to advice so if I can make the facilities of NAS better or more feasible by taking part in this run then I need your help in raising the funds. I just ask you to take a minute to think about how everyday things we can do can be made so much harder for those with autism, or the fact that some things we take for Granted may be something that someone with autism can't even understand let alone do.
Even if you can't donate, please take a second to read below a bit about autism and how it can affect so many lives. Thank you for taking your time to read this and I hope that not only can I raise some dollar that will make a huge difference to my pals who are great parents, but more importantly to Connie's and those living with autism lives. NAS can work towards making significant changes for those living with autism, so let's get them there quicker. Thank you again. Much love xxx
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.