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Getting active for autism

$750 donated

Given by 8 generous donors in around 7 months

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Running to raise funds to support the amazing work of the Children's Autism Foundation.

Auckland

Children's Autism Foundation fund and facilitate events for parents/carers/whanau, children on the spectrum and their educators such as social and friendship skills; positive parenting support; sensory processing issues; managing anxiety and outreach support.

Richard Anthony's involvement (page creator)

I'm lacing up my laces and stretching my muscles to run seven 20km races. My aim is to raise funds to support 7 families living and engaging with autism.

Why running? Running not only improves physical fitness, skills and body tone, but for individuals with autism it can also help lower anxiety and enhance socialisation, as well as increasing happiness and self-esteem.

As unique individuals, including children on the autistic spectrum, we all have talents, gifts and skills to share with others throughout our journey in life.

For children on the autistic spectrum the world can be a terrifying place on occasions. Sometimes a sound feels like their head is exploding or some clothes may feel like their skin is burning. And sometimes a tiny change, like a parent parking in a different space in the school car park, can feel like their world is coming to an end. Sometimes they may have too much information to process.

And if you only see a misbehaving child then you are missing the information and skills to bring out the best in them.

Donate today to support the Children's Foundation. They take the time to establish a deep understanding of each individual they work with and focus on their unique strengths and motivations.

Latest update

Waiuku Xterra Race # 4 5 August 2016

Thank you everyone for your support.

I completed the 4th race out of 7 on Sunday. A great experience although slightly daunting with the lack of training and the additional padding gained from the week in Fiji. I now understand why the Pacific island rugby players are so well built....

The shock to the system started with a painful hail shower at the start line followed 5 km of trail running along the coast before heading in land and up hill through the forest. Running back passed the start area at the 10km mark I felt good and was wondering why other runners had told me that it was a tough day out.

I soon found out with the first of several sand dune climbs, made particularly bad by the sand blasting we received from the high winds. The next 10 km turned into a slog through forest and across beaches and sand dunes. The slog was finally broken as we plunged through a series of mud pools as we covered the final km to the finish line.

Feeling chuffed at finishing and not collapsing other the line I chatted to the man who had passed me in the last 100 m. Not only was he many years my senior, he also let me know in a cheery note that the remaining races were much harder, and this was only a warm up.......

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