Toby and Mimi's Exeter Half Marathon fundraiser for Stamma
Toby Newsome is raising money for Stamma
Story
We’re running a half marathon in May for STAMMA, a cause that’s incredibly close to both of our hearts. Stammering is often misunderstood, and for many, it comes with unnecessary stigma, shame, and barriers in daily life. As someone who stammers, Toby knows first-hand how difficult it can be to navigate situations where speech is expected to be effortless. But stammering is just another way of speaking, and no one should feel held back because of it.
Every conversation can feel like a challenge, the pressure to come across as confident, articulate, and in control, whether in a seminar, ordering a coffee, or just chatting with friends. The fear of being judged, seeing someone react awkwardly, or having them try to finish sentences can make even the simplest interactions exhausting. But stammering isn’t a weakness, and it shouldn’t be something people try to hide. That’s why breaking the stigma is so important, so that people who stammer don’t feel they have to change who they are just to fit in.
That’s why we’re running for STAMMA, a charity dedicated to changing public perceptions of stammering and ensuring that people who stammer are heard, respected, and supported. Over the next few years, STAMMA is pushing every organisation to become accessible to people who stammer, so that stammering is expected, planned for, and met with understanding rather than awkwardness.
To achieve this, they need to scale up their training, support, and services, and that’s where you come in. Every donation, big or small, will help STAMMA provide the resources needed to challenge stigma, educate businesses and institutions, and create a world where people who stammer can speak freely without fear.
If you can, please support our run and help make a real difference. Thank you!
Here are just a few of the ways your donations could help:
💙 £10 Covers two calls or webchats to their Helpline Service. 💙 £25 Pays for two Resource Packs for Speech & Language Therapists or teachers. 💙 £50 Supports their Helpline Services for one hour. 💙 £120 Fuels one day of the Advocacy Service. 💙 £250 Runs a specialist training workshop for employers. 💙 £500 Provides support for an employee seeking help at work.