8:00pm Wednesday 8th September 2010
THE mother of an autistic eight-year-old boy is putting her best foot forward in a 125 mile charity run across Lancashire.
Samantha Ellis, will embark on the seven day challenge taking her through fields and fells across the county in a bid to raise £5,000 for two autism charities.
Her youngest son Charlie was diagnosed with the condition when he was just two.
The mother-of-three who lives with her husband Sean in Clitheroe said: “He is a wonderful little boy who has many difficulties and needs constant care, stimulation and a very watchful eye.
“It can be very difficult to try and do things as a family because Charlie does not speak and we have to use picture cards to communicate.
“So the two charities I am raising money for help our family and many others who live with this disability.
“OJ's Sensory Trust provides a wide range of activities from horse riding and mobile climbing walls, to art and swimming but also provides essential respite care.
“And The National Autistic Society provides support, advice and education to many families across the UK.”
Samantha will embark on the run on October 10 beginning in the Trough of Bowland and taking in Lancaster, Garstang, Fleetwood, Blackpool, Lytham, Preston, Blackburn, Colne and Barnoldswick before finishing in Clitheroe.
The shift supervisor at Maxwell’s bar and cafe in Clitheroe was inspired to take on the challenge after watching Eddie Izzard’s marathon efforts to raise money for Sport Relief, earlier this year.
She said: “With no prior experience of long distance running, he went on to run 43 marathons in 51 days raising over £1million in the process.
“This led me to thinking maybe I could do some good and achieve some personal goals at the same time.
“I am not a natural athlete and have only been running for a very short time so this is an ambitious project that has taken a great deal of training.”
Samantha is being sponsored by her bosses at Maxwell’s.
To donate visit www.autismrun.com
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