Diolch yn fawr / 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 with the ‘ADHD Winter Warriors’ between the 28th of November and the 28th of February.

The ‘ADHD Winter Warriors’ are committing to regular movement to best support our mental health and wellbeing and documenting these moments of self care in the form of ‘glimmers’. ‘Glimmers’ are bright spots in our day, moments of enjoyment, little wins, gratitude, mini successes, connection etc. Taking time regularly to engage in movement as a form of self care is a perfect example of a ‘glimmer’. For this 3 month team challenge, 1 step = 1 glimmer & 15 minutes of movement = 1,111 glimmers, with the ultimate goal being to reach 1,111,111 glimmers collectively!

So I will be tracking my steps and/or minutes of movement each week and sharing here how many ‘glimmers’ I’ve totted up as I go.

In addition to our collective goal of supporting ourselves and each other to get through winter, we are fundraising for the ADHDAF+ charity. These funds will support the charity to continue their work, getting out into the community to support ADHD Adults of marginalised genders.

Winter can often exacerbate mental health challenges and/or co-morbidities such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD disproportionately occurs in people with ADHD with an estimated rate of about 30% of women with adult ADHD being at a higher risk of co-occurring SAD.

Two years ago, the ADHDAF Podcast (from which the ADHDAF+ charity was born), started to run a peer support community with 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 adults with ADHD already living with co-occuring depression, anxiety, PMDD, perimenopause / menopause and more, it was very apparent last winter just how many people experience S.A.D. in addition. The numerous challenges experienced make prioritising and motivation to engage in acts of self care and movement especially difficult. As many who require support for ADHD and mental health challenges are on neverending waiting lists, and others are unable to access their medication due to shortages, the charity helps the ADHD community to explore ways we can support ourselves and each other, which is more important now than ever.

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

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MORE INFO. ABOUT THE ADHDAF+ CHARITY AND THE WORK FUNDS RAISED WILL SUPPORT:

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 experienced 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.