Thank you so much for visiting my JustGiving page! 

Evidently I am not quite ready to leave the North, so figured I'd end my time here with a run.

On 8th September 2019 I will be running the Great North Run for the National Autistic Society. 

What is autism? Autism is a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. There are approximately 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK. Have a watch of this video, because words will never fully explain the impact autism has on an individual: https://youtu.be/Lk4qs8jGN4U

I have a vibrant, very excitable and clever younger brother, who is also autistic. He is smart and brilliant, but also has his meltdowns, anxieties and day-to-day struggles. I am therefore running for him and also the National Autistic Society as they not only offer support to individuals with autism and their families, but also campaign for a better understanding of the disability. 

People with autism are 10x more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population. Adults with austism often also suffer secondary depression due to social isolation, underachievement, unemployment and the lack of high quality services to support them. Around 40% suffer from anxiety, compared to the general population's 15%.  In 2016, 4,500 autistic children were excluded from school; often for simply displaying distressed behaviour created by a lack of support and understanding.

Every little donation will help this amazing charity continue what they're doing. While it cannot change autism, it can definitely change our perception of it and offer vital support to those with it. 

Thank you in advance for any donations. I'll see you back in the North in September xo 

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