Hi everyone, thanks for visiting my page.

What I’m doing: 

As a proud dyslexic, I am thrilled to be running the Virgin 2020
London Marathon on behalf of the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity. A charity which is naturally close to my heart.

What is dyslexia:

Dyslexia is a life-long learning disorder that causes difficulty reading, writing and spelling (amongst other things). The exact cause of dyslexia is unknown, but it often runs in families. Individuals with dyslexia have an increased risk of suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder which can cause difficulty sustaining attention as well as hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour and can make dyslexia harder to treat. It is estimated that 1 in every 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia.

Dyslexics have a lot to offer to the world (Richard Branson, Albert Einstein and Leonardo Da Vinci are all famous dyslexics). However, if
left untreated or unrecognised, dyslexia can have a devastating impact on an individual’s life, for example, low self-esteem, behavioural problems, anxiety, and long term educational, social and economic consequences. Many studies have shown that the % of dyslexics in
prison is often two or three times the national average.

My personal story:

I am a successful Chartered Account, law graduate, avid reader and
sports competitor managing the daily challenges that dyslexia brings. However, during my early schooling I was on the special needs list for behaviour and failed to fulfil my true potential due to difficulty concentrating and the struggle of learning in ways that didn’t necessarily suit me. Though signs of dyslexia were clear and often voiced throughout this period, it was not until university that I received an up-to-date dyslexia assessment and was given the support I needed.

By running the Virgin 2020 London Marathon for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, I hope to raise £1500 to help the charity work with schools to provide them with the necessary tools to help identify dyslexia at the earliest possible opportunity and provide them with the resources needed to thrive. I also hope to be an example to all dyslexics and individuals with learning difficulties by showing that we all have unlimited potential and can excel despite the daily challenges dyslexia brings.

What does Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity do?

The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity helps to remove the barriers
that dyslexic individuals face in learning and life. This means ensuring
individuals have the technology and techniques to assist spelling, reading, grammar, memory and organisation thus helping individuals to believe in themselves and achieve success on their own terms.  The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity supports individuals and organisation assessments, skills support and dyslexia awareness training.

Thank you for your support!

#TopsRunsLDN #NoHumanIsLimited #YesWeCan