A councillor near Stroud is preparing to run 250km during October after an autism diagnosis prompted her to take on a fundraising challenge supporting two charities.
Gill Thomas, a Green district councillor for Minchinhampton, plans to take part in Autism Initiatives’ Run for Autism challenge. The organised challenge asks participants to run 40km across the month, but Ms Thomas aims to cover six times that distance.
Her target will include the Stroud Half Marathon. She also intends to pick up litter during her runs, continuing a community activity for which she is often seen out and about. The runs will be fitted around school pick-ups and council meetings.
Why Gill Thomas took on the challenge
Ms Thomas decided to enter after being diagnosed as autistic in July. She said the diagnosis had changed the way she understood experiences from her childhood, including the death of her mother when she was 11.
“For some people, growing up feeling different can be very lonely and confusing, especially when they don’t understand why. My situation was made more complicated by the loss of my mum when I was 11 years old. For decades, I blamed my social and communication difficulties on that one episode in my life. Now, with my autism diagnosis, I find myself looking back at the experience in a completely different way.”
She also highlighted the experience of children who lose a parent. The source material states that an estimated 46,300 children lose a parent each year in the UK, and says autistic traits may mean feelings are masked, misunderstood or overlooked.
Ms Thomas said research into the relationship between autism and childhood bereavement remains limited and fragmented. She said support can be irregular and inconsistent, with unmet needs affecting confidence and relationships and potentially developing into more complex mental-health and social challenges in adulthood.
Charities and donations
Money raised through the challenge will be shared between Autism Initiatives and Childhood Bereavement UK. Ms Thomas said she hoped the fundraiser would do more than generate donations by encouraging conversations about autism, bereavement and how people respond to behaviour they may not understand.
“We never really know what someone else is carrying, or what has shaped them. It can be easy to make assumptions based on what we see from the outside, or to become frustrated when someone doesn’t behave as we’d expect. So I’m hoping this challenge can not only raise money but also start a few conversations and maybe encourage a little more kindness and compassion too.”
People wishing to support Ms Thomas can donate through her fundraising page: JustGiving. Further information about Run for Autism is available from Autism Initiatives.