Mr & Mrs Jonas's Great North Run

We will be taking part in the Great North Run (a half marathon from Newcastle to South Shields) on Sunday 20th September to raise money for The National Autistic Society.  This will be Mick’s third Great North Run (he is aiming for a time of under two hours again) but Sara’s first attempt (she is aiming to finish by nightfall!). The National Autistic Society is a charity which is especially important to us as our eldest son Michael, who is now 25, is autistic and sadly wasn’t able to enjoy the Port Regis education from which his two brothers benefited so much.  Michael brings us great joy, but the going has certainly not been easy, and the National Autistic Society has been a huge help and support to us over the years, particularly when we have been struggling to get the authorities to provide the most appropriate education provision and support for him.  This is our way of saying thank you and we would be hugely grateful for any sponsorship you feel able to give us.

The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by autism and helps over half a million people in the UK.  Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition.  Without the right support, it can have a profound – sometimes devastating – effect on individuals and families.  Often it doesn’t get the attention it deserves which means that people affected by autism don’t get the help, support and understanding they need.

Mick in trainingThe National Autistic Society provides services such as:

The funds we raise can make a huge difference.  For example £25 pays for the first stage of training of a volunteer befriender who will spend a few hours a week with a person with autism or their family, offering much needed support and friendship.  We only wish this had been available when we were struggling to come to terms with Michael’s diagnosis and attempting to care for a disabled child along with two other small children.

With just over a week to go, we are now into the final stages of our training and with your support we are hoping to raise as much as possible for the NAS.  Thank you so much.

Mick and Sara Jonas