Parents pack out East Grinstead restaurant to raise awareness of autism

Thursday, March 28, 2013

East Grinstead Courier and Observer

By Sam Satchell

 

A charity curry was held in support of an "invisible disability".
Parents and children packed into Nizam, in East Grinstead High Street, for the meal which raised more than £2,000 for Step By Step – a specialist school for children with autism.
The event was also designed to provide a better understanding of the condition prior to Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday, April 2.
Parents of autistic children face a daily challenge and issues can include shouting, crying, sleepless nights and developing specific routines.

Meridian FM presenter Alice Gordon-Clark, whose 9-year-old son, Joel, attends Step By Step, said: "I think it's very important to  raise awareness of autism, because some people aren't aware of the signs of autism. It's a hidden disability.
"When Joel was younger, people thought he was a bit naughty, but that was obviously his autism.
"He joined the cubs and has done really well. Joel's behaviour is so good now because of the school, but autism can also be treated with diets and therapy."
East Grinstead mother-of-two Amanda Clark, whose 10-year-old son Archie goes to another autistic school, Manor Green in Crawley, said the condition can be very unpredictable.
She said: "Archie is very bright and in lots of ways, he's just like any normal 10-year-old boy.
"But he can't keep himself safe. He might run out in the road. I have to have him by my side at all times because it's like constantly being on a knife edge. His behaviour is very unpredictable.
"Our lives are constantly affected. We can't really go on holiday because as soon as he's out of his routine, he can go on a downward spiral. It's trying to get people to understand that this is an invisible disability and that's what makes it so difficult.
"We are not irresponsible parents; we are brilliant parents struggling with children that have very specific needs."
The curry lunch, on Sunday, March 17, was suggested by Alice and organised by the Step By Step Parents' Association. Committee members are due to meet with the Sharpthorne school next term to discuss how best to spend the money on equipment for the children.
Both Alice and the school staff thanked everyone for their support.

For the love of Joel

If only you knew what we do for this boy
He's rarely ever asked for a toy
His killer smile can break your heart
His eyes look at you leaving you wanting more

Why are you looking thoughtful today?
What are you thinking please let me in
Give me a clue, give me a reason
Will you be able to tell me some day?

Your smile lights up a room
It's cheeky it's funny it's magical
I love the way you laugh and

First Fundraising event went off with a bang!

Head of Step by Step school Donna Fidler with me at the Fundraiser curry event for the school

Am so proud to announce that the fundraiser event I put on with a few other parents from the
Step by Step Parent's Association in East Grinstead near Joel's school on 17th March was in one parent's words 'beyond Step by Step's wildest dreams!. 

The 130 seats in the restaurant was full and the atmosphere was buzzing and people were being turned away!   I can't believe we did it and are now able to put this money towards a white board or other games/ipads which the school needs which is what I set out to do in a blog you may have read a few months ago after I'd been to the AGM meeting at the school.  It hit me that this school really does rely on charities for equipment and other things apart from running costs and staff fees.  So  thtat's really quite a lot of stuff they need.

Earlier on in the organisation to get this curry on the road I had Hyacinth Bouquet on the phone to me from the church I attend who was concerned my lunch was falling on her Lingfield lunch day, but I had to keep my date firm as we'd booked it with parents and actually it was my loss as she has a regular following. 

She called me the day after the lunch and was quick to give me her dates for the year for her other lunches as she'd heard my lunch went very well.  I was even quicker to point out that I had a child with severe autism and I didn't know if I'd be doing another lunch in a year let alone six months time!!!  I don't know if you realise it but it's a big thing to just sort out some paperwork on your desk if you have a child with autism and a few others let alone try and get into competition with other charity lunches in the area!  I didn't know if I'd get 20 people to this gig never mind the 130 lovely people who all turned up !

I am so thankful to all the local businesses and other businesses who sponsored this event and gave to the raffle prizes.  Also thank you to everyone who came along and those who just sent money to the school who couldn't come.    Thanks to Charlotte, Carmen and Claire some other mothers who helped to make this event run so smoothly and to Saleem at Nizam who has offered me a job in marketing!!

I hope that this will be an annual event for the Parent's Association and am happy to have helped this wonderful school and these amazing children who some of them sat so well at the event and this is all because of the school they go to.  Thank you Step by Step!!!xx