WELCOME TO OUR MAY NEWSLETTER

Summer's approaching and we have arranged lots of exciting events for you....walks, runs, lunch, clay shooting...why not join us and help raise money for Autism Speaks.

EVENTS NEWS

World Autism Awareness Day

April 2nd has been ratified by the United Nations’ as World Autism Awareness Day. Although we were given short notice about this special day, Autism Speaks in both the UK and USA was able to create much awareness.

In the UK, free advertising in major newspapers was secured raising awareness about Autism, appearing in the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Metro, Evening Standard and London Lite.

Authors for Autism Research

Autism Speaks organised an “Authors for Autism Research” character auction on eBay which ended on April 2. Bidders competed to have their name given to a character in a future work by leading UK and US authors. Among the authors participating was Louis de Bernieres, Jodi Picoult, Darren Shan, RJ Ellory, Ken Follet, Marti Leimbach and Esther Freud.

Also on the day, Isabel Bayonaras, President of the World Autism Organisation, spoke on international developments in autism at the meeting of the “All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism” at the House of Commons.

For a full update of international activities, visit the website.

Walk for Autism Research

This is our signature event and we have become well known in many communities for these sponsored walks, bringing families living with autism together.  Families love these events because they can all just be themselves for the day.
 
We have run four successful walks – two in Windsor Great Park and two at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland and we are delighted to announce our next walk in The Swinley Forest, Bracknell on Sunday, 12th October 2008

Swinley Forest is part of The Crown Estate and a superb venue with autumnal walks leading you through the golden leaves of the forest.  There is also a picnic area & children’s playground at The Lookout, which we have access to.  Do come and join us in October, for a great family day out and help us to raise vital funds for Autism Speaks.  Please contact Lynn Hart for more details.

Walk for Autism Research, The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland - Sunday 4th May

Hundreds of people returned to The Alnwick Garden for a second walk earlier this month.  Despite an initial burst of rain, the sun came out in time for walkers to enjoy one of our three walks on offer. This fabulous fundraising event has raised in excess of £15,000. 

Postman Pat was a huge success - Jane Morland, Communications Team Leader at Northumbrian Water in Durham, spent five hours dressed as the loveable cartoon postman, greeting children and posing with them for photographs, handing out balloons and presenting medals after the walk.

Northumbrian Water sponsored the walk by providing bottled tap and by paying for a face painter to entertain the children. 

The Learning Support Services at Newcastle College and the NAS were amongst the stands for the day. Parent, Kirstey Rhodes created a terrific stall packed with her own cards, products and also organised a tombola.  It was called Christina’s Stall – named after her daughter.  Face Painters and story tellers from the Local Library were amongst the entertainment. 

Our thanks go to all our sponsors - Sanofi Aventis, the Wirral Autistic Society, Alcan, Greggs NE Trust, Parker Hannifin, The Miller Group and the Community Foundation. Special thanks also to Tim Bates of Goodall Bates and Todd Ltd, who arranged transport of the bottled water and to our enthusiastic and tireless volunteers – Tony Hopkins, Amy and Susan Bates, Victoria Sanvitale, Sue Smith and her sister Carol, Brenda and Barry Taylor, Patrick Naisby Rogers.  And, of course, our warmest thanks go to all of our walkers and supporters, as well as to The Alnwick Garden staff and volunteers who once again made us feel very welcome and worked so hard to help us make this magical day happen. 

For more details of the day, please visit our website.

ON THE RUN! 

Adidas Women’s 5k Challenge -  Sunday 5th September

Registration for the Adidas Women’s Challenge is now OPEN.   Just go to our website and nominate Autism Speaks as your charity when registering.

This event has a wonderful atmosphere and is suitable event for the fit and not so fit – you can walk the 5k if you prefer.  If you have always fancied a challenge, why not start with this one first?  The Adidas Women’s 5K Challenge site will contain all the details you'll need to know about the race, including information about race day, training tips for you to follow, blogs for you to document your experiences in, a forum where you'll be able to meet other runners and how to enter.

All runners will receive an Autism Speaks T shirt, an Autism Speaks cap and a fundraising pack, complete with sponsorship forms. 

Great North Run -  Sunday 5th October

We have 3 places left for the Great North Run on 5th October. Starting in Newcastle and finishing in South Shields, this is one of the most popular runs in the country!  Do get in touch with Lynn asap to claim your place – these will soon go! 

If you already have a place in the Great North Run, please send us your details to receive a sponsorship pack. Please contact Lynn with your name, address and contact number.  All runners will receive an Autism Speaks T shirt, an Autism Speaks cap and a fundraising pack, complete with sponsorship forms. 

Royal Parks Half Marathon, London, Sunday 12th October

We still have a few places left for this fantastic new Half Marathon – taking you through the Royal Parks of London – if you have always wanted to run in London, then this is the one for you!  Contact Lynn for more details and an application form – or visit the Royal Parks website

When your sponsors tick the Gift Aid box on our sponsorship forms, it is essential that they provide their full address, postcode and signature.  Unfortunately, without these details we can’t claim Gift Aid.

OTHER EVENTS

Charity Clay Shoot -Friday 13th June

We have just a few spare places left for the Charity Clay Shoot – at the Royal Berkshire Shooting School with Will Carling, Mike Teague, Zinzan Brooke and David Sole.  See our website for more details or contact lynn.hart@autismspeaks.org.uk

Lunch with Lady Astor of Hever, at Cliveden House Hotel, Maidenhead -Tuesday 1st July
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We have a very special lunch organised at this spectacular 5* Hotel near Maidenhead.  Lady Astor of Hever will be speaking about her family connections with Cliveden – the house was the home of the Astors from 1893 to 1942 and also her experience of autism as a mother.   Lunch – which includes champagne, a delicious 3 course meal and wine -  costs £95 per head.  If you would like to come – please get in touch with Lynn Hart  We really would love to see you.

AUTISM SPEAKS' RESEARCH UPDATE

Face Processing Area of Brain Shows Anatomical Differences in Autism

A paper in the journal ‘Brain’ describes a significant anatomical difference in the face processing area of brain donors with autism compared to non-affected donors.

Research in the 1990s indicated that individuals with autism spectrum disorders had abnormalities in face perception, leading researchers to investigate a unique cortical brain area – called the fusiform gyrus, referred to as the face processing area. Cells in this area are activated selectively in response to faces as opposed to non-face objects (e.g. a chair). Using non-invasive imaging technology for the study of human subjects, several labs demonstrated that there was less activation of the face processing area in those diagnosed with autism, and that this might contribute to the social deficits seen in those with autism.

For the last five years, Imke van Kooten, Ph.D. and her colleagues at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands and in the U.S.A. have made painstaking measurements of neurons in post mortem brain sections. They have compared the neuron density, total neuron number and mean cell body volume in the fusiform gyrus with that of the primary visual cortex - an area also dedicated to vision, located in the back of the brain.

The authors suggest that reduced neuronal size and total neuron number in the fusiform gyrus might contribute to impaired face processing in autism. However, since individuals with autism can 'see' faces, most likely by utilisation of neural circuitry, the research team plans further study of other additional cortical areas implicated in visual processing.

This continued research will be part of the Brain Atlas Project, a larger study supported by Autism Speaks' Autism Tissue Programme. The project started officially in 2002 and is comprised of 14 autism-affected and 14 non-affected brain donors ranging from age 4 to 66. The aim is to perform comprehensive cell counting and volumetry, neuropathology, MRI and 3-D reconstructions of the donor brains.

Autism Speaks' Autism Tissue Program supports this type of specialised neuropathology research, providing approved scientists access to the most rare and necessary of resources - post mortem human brain tissue. We wish to recognise the gifts of hope by our brain donor families.

AUTISM SPEAKS' LOCAL GROUPS & SUPPORTERS

Golfing News

Young golfer Joseph Vanaman raises awareness for Autism speaks in the Nick Faldo Series. 

Joseph Vanaman from Nottingham is 13 years old and was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 2004.   He is a really keen golfer and we sent him an Autism Speaks cap to wear for the Nick Faldo series Golf Qualifier.

Joseph played really well and here is a photograph of Joseph proudly wearing his cap with Vicky Hamilton, the Nick Faldo Series Executive.

Joseph has a busy year of golf ahead with 36 junior open competitions as well as junior club county matches. It's the perfect sport for him and we wish Joseph every success in the future – good luck and keep in touch Joseph!!!

Joseph got in touch with Autism Speaks, after learning about Golf pro Ernie Els’ support for our charity. Ernie’s 5 year old son, Ben has been diagnosed with autism. To learn more about Ernie’s support, click here

Taking the plunge

Autism Speaks supporter – and Chair of our Autism Speaks South Berks Local Group – will be jumping out of a plane on 30th August for her first ever parachute jump.  Kirsty, pictured here with her son Sam, who has autism, is determined to overcome her fears to raise funds for Autism Speaks.   She says: ‘I hope to raise much needed funds for Autism Speaks.  Donations will help to make a difference to the life of my wonderful son and the 107,000 children across the country like him living with autism.  It would give hope of a brighter more secure future.’ 

Why not support her on her brave adventure! Click here

AUTISM IN THE NEWS

Autism Speaks is pleased that autism is being featured increasingly in the media. Here are a couple of news bites for your interest.

Department of Health announces Adult Autism Strategy

Care services Minister Ivan Lewis announced £500,000 for Government research into the numbers of adults with autism and their specific transitions needs. This prevalence study will inform the first ever Government strategy on adults with autism and Asperger's syndrome, due to be published next year.

The number of children with autism is as high as 1 in 100 (according to Prof. Baird's 2006 study) and this prevalence study will give us a more accurate picture of how many adults have the condition. Part of the new research will focus on the period of transition to adult life and will inform service planning for adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. More information

Oxford University study supports theory that rise in autism is related to increase in diagnosis

Research funded by the Wellcome Trust suggests that many children diagnosed with severe language disorders in the 1980s and 1990s would today be diagnosed as having autism. In recent years, the criteria for diagnosing developmental language disorders and autism have changed. This has coincided with a marked rise in the rates of diagnosis of autism. read more

And finally....

Longstock Water Garden, Sunday 6th April

Longstock Water Garden in Stockbridge, Hampshire is owned by John Lewis, who generously opened the gardens for Autism Speaks for a fundraising day.  Although we woke up to three inches of snow, the sun did come up and gave us a memorable day.

The Garden was beautiful - the blossom trees were in full bloom and there were lots of plants just bursting into colour.  The daffodils were on full display on the walk up to the Nursery where almost everyone went for tea, cakes and a warm up.

We are pleased to announce that the day raised just over £622.00 – it also raised vital awareness for autism research, not just in the local community but within John Lewis too. A super day, our thanks go out to everyone who came and supported us and especially to our volunteers, without whom the day would not have happened –Victoria & Caroline Sanvitale, Cynthia Coombes, Steve Haworth and Andy Chaloner.

Have you changed your contact details?

Please let us know if you change your email address by emailing John Coombes at Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks. North Lea House, 66 Northfield End, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, RG9 2BE.

Charity Registration No. 1107350. Registered in England. Company No: 5184164. Tel: 01491 412311