My daughters are both diagnosed with autism, and my eldest is also diagnosed with ADHD. It's taken 10 years for my eldest to be diagnosed and 5 years for my youngest, who has not been in school for 3 years. 

The support available through the NHS and schools is not sufficient to diagnose, help, and support autistic people, and in particular young girls. The delays in diagnosis and support impact mental health in those with autism and those who support them. The delays can impact children with severe anxiety and depression, and for parents a never ending seesaw of emotions as they are sent on parenting courses and passed from pillar to post by schools, the council, and the NHS.

This has to change, people need to be more aware of autism in order to enable greater funding to help diagnose and support autistic individuals live the life they deserve, and take the burden off them and those who support them. We need society to accept changes need to be made to accommodate autistic individuals needs.

This is why I am fundraising for the National Autistic Society and running the Royal Parks Half Marathon, their mission is to "transform lives and change attitudes to help create a society that works for autistic people.". I am also doing it for my daughters, for me, my wife, and our wider family, for all those families out there struggling as we do to get the support we need, and to allow our children to live more easily in our society.