Thanks so much for visiting my Just Giving page! I would be so grateful if you could sponsor me to take part in this three month team activity to keep moving in these dark winter months to collectively raise funds for ADHDAF+ Charity whilst combating S.A.D.

I am the Queen of hibernating in winter! It's so tempting for me to just batten down the hatches until Spring and fester on the sofa throughout the Xmas period, but I know us ADHDers need all the help we can get in the mental health department these winter months! Us ADHDAF Winter Warriors are committing to regular movement to best support our mental health and wellbeing from Nov 28th to Feb 28th and with it we bring a little fun and magic just like we do in the ADHDAF community and podcast! :) Brightening up these dark months to achieve our collective goal of 1,111,111 ‘GLIMMERS’

We use 'all the ones' in our body doubling sessions for luck and on ADHDAF Podcast we track our glimmers (microjoys) - we are combining the two to create some movement magic to combat SAD and raise funds for ADHDAF+ Charity: 1 step = 1 glimmer & 15 minutes of movement = 1,111 glimmers

Each team member tracks their movement each week, which we will then collate into glimmers during the period of 28th Nov til 28th Feb to reach our magic number. Our collective goal is to support ourselves and each other to get through winter and get the charity out into the community to support ADHD Adults of marginalised genders by Spring.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) disproportionately affects people with ADHD. This form of depression that tends to occur during the darker months of the year, frequently co-occurs with ADHD at an estimated rate of about 30% with adult ADHD women tending to have a higher risk of co-occurring SAD and ADHD.

Two years ago the ADHDAF Podcast online Peer support community began Morning Body Doubling to help support members to get out of bed in the winter months and to bring some light to the dark mornings.

With so many of us already suffering co-occuring depression, anxiety, PMDD, perimenopause/menopause and more - last winter it was very apparent how much so many of us struggle with S.A.D. on top of all we are already up against. This winter, with many community members still on neverending waiting lists and others unable to access their medication due to shortages, we need to best support ourselves and each other now more than ever.

One of the ways to help improve SAD and ADHD symptoms is regular exercise. In having this collective goal we will all be mentally healthier this winter, and in turn the funds raised further support the ADHD Community via ADHDAF+ Charity.

This charity was inspired by the ADHDAF Podcast Community. The work it will do is crucial at this time of both ADHD diagnosis crisis and medication shortages. Funds are needed to be able to connect ADHD Adults of marginalised genders in their local communities, to then create essential peer support groups. The online community has proven the life changing benefit of peer support, so to be able to facilitate in-person peer support for those in need will be of enormous benefit to the wider ADHD community. ADHDAF+ Charity has only just be founded, so we desperately need the funds to get it up and running: adhdafplus.org.uk

Three of the major difficulties suffered by most ADHDers are motivation, consistency and self care. The money to get the charity up and running and the peer support element of doing this as a collective will motivate us to look after ourselves at a time when not only is self care the most difficult to do, but also when we need it the most.

Your donation will help fund live events to bring ADHD adults of marginalised genders together in their local community to create their own peer support network, which is crucial at a time where in some parts of the UK vulnerable people can be waiting 8 years for life changing and even life saving assessment, diagnosis and treatment. The events will feature information, validation and signposting and will empower attendees to not just best support themselves but each other by creating local regular in person support groups.

It would mean the absolute world if you could donate to this fundraiser. We know that past ADHDAF Podcast events worked to fight isolation, connect and empower. Just imagine the difference the ADHDAF+ Charity events and support groups will make for those living in limbo, many in mental health crisis and in desperate need for support currently so far out of reach. Please donate to help motivate and support our Winter Warriors to help them shine through the darkness and illuminate the way for the invaluable work your generosity will enable ADHDAF+ charity to begin.

Find out more and/or join the team on our winter mission: https://www.justgiving.com/team/adhdafwinterwarriors