2007 Challenge Quotes

• “Thank you so much for the simply wonderful time I had. I am surprised how much I enjoyed it, every aspect, the riding, the people, the countryside and scenery, the team work, organisation. It was simply spot on!” (London to Paris Participant)
• “I wanted to repay the NAS for helping my family. It was a great way to meet other Dads of autistic children – really enjoyed talking about the kids! I just didn’t know if I could ride 190 miles in 3 days as a fat 42 year old – and I can!!!”(London to Paris Participant)

• Taking part in the Himalayas trek for the NAS was an amazing achievement and my way of helping people with autism, their families and carers. The training was demanding but it was worth it as the money I raised will help support thousands of people with autism to live their lives to full potential. This was the most incredible experience.  The place, the trek and especially the people. I'll never forget any of it and I may be back again. Thank you!(Trek Himalaya Partipant)
• My thighs still feel seriously challenged but it was a really brilliant weekend –THANK YOU ! I will almost certainly be signing up for more weekend ones so hope to see you again soon! (Snowdon participant)

2008 Challenge Quotes

• A fantastic experience with memories that l will cherish forever. I would encourage everyone to do something like this at least once in their lifetime! The fact that I also able to raise money for a cause as worthy as NAS made the trip even more special and helped spur me on to complete the trek without once having to resort to getting on the truck or on the horse.(Debbie Owens Costa Rica Jan – Feb 2008)

2007 Running Quotes

• "As I said on the day, this has been the best run charity I have had the pleasure in raising money for. It would be my pleasure to do this again" - Great North run runner 2007
• "The whole experience was excellent - thank you. Please bear me in mind for next year...my 12th Great North Run, all being well!" - Great North run runner 2007
• "I Chose to run for the national autistic society because my son suffers from autistic spectrum disorder and my brother has severe autism and I wanted to be a part of raising money and awareness of autism. I Found the whole experience fantastic, getting to meet people who have friends or relatives with the same problems and I was really proud to be running on behalf of the National Autistic Society and I look forward to running and helping to raise money and awareness in future events. The event was so well organised, the halos easy to spot, so we soon were cheering each other on!" - Hydro Active Challenge for Women participant 2007
• "We had a really fab day at the 5k Hydro Active Challenge and were proudly wearing our Autism Angels t-shirts, with the new logo! We saw lots more Autism Angels running round which was very inspiring. It is truly a fantastic experience and I was pleased to be an Angel. I do hope I see you girls next year!" - Hydro Active Challenge for Women participant 2007
• "I would like to thank everyone at NAS for their help and support along the way. The pre-marathon help and support was useful and most welcome. The organisation on the day and the post race reception were absolutely fantastic. My family members who came along to help me were very impressed with the welcome and kindness shown to them at the cheering station. From my point of view the post race care was brilliant" - Kevin Wright (2007 London Marathon runner)
• "Thanks so much for all your support. It really has been a wonderful experience, from the fundraising through to the training and the wonderful day we had on the 22nd April. It got me fitter and lighter than I have been for years, it made me teetotal and eat healthily for a staggering 4 months, it got me in touch with old friends and the list goes on! But most importantly it allowed me to give something back to the NAS, a charity that has been so wonderfully supportive to us as a family" - Nick Reeve (2007 London Marathon runner).

Great South Run 2008

• “Hello again!

Just thought I'd drop a line to thank you very much for your hospitality on Sunday - It certainly made the damp weather much more comfortable! All my family thoroughly enjoyed it as well (even if they did leave me stranded at the finish line!)
It was great talking to you and fantastic to see the efforts made by all runners in support of NAS, raising its profile. I hope the money raised really makes a difference.
I loved the day so much, I appear to have gotten a taste for such events and could well be tempted to enter another, longer distance run in the new year (once I'm back walking straight!) Although I have made no definite plans as yet, I would love to run in aid of NAS following the achievements made on Sunday. I will keep you posted on my plans and activities.

Thanks again - and keep up the awesome work!” – Jack Cherry (2008 Great South Run)

London to Paris Spring 2007

• It was a tough challenge but completed in a fabulous spirit
• The route through France was amazing! The social atmosphere was great fun too!
• Thank you so much for the simply wonderful time I had. This sounds a bit odd but I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it, every aspect, the riding, the people, the countryside and scenery, the team work, organisation. It was simply spot on!
• It was great to meet other parents of autistic children
• The best part of the London to paris cycle was the people I met on the ride and the sense of achievement upon arriving at the Eiffel tower
• The best thing was challenging myself to do something both exciting and interesting whilst raising money for a very good cause at the same time
• It was great meeting with like minded individuals all of which have common problems with autism
• I wanted to repay the NAS for their help to my family. It was a great way to meet other Dads of autistic children – really enjoyed talking about the kids! I just didn’t know if I could ride 190 miles in 3 days as a fat 42 year old – and I can!!!

London to Amsterdam 2008

• “Thanks for such a great experience last weekend. I still can't quite believe I cycled all the way to Amsterdam. Thanks for all your help and hard work last weekend, I made some great friends.”

London Marathon 2008

• You have done really well – just keep on doing what you do. Thank you, as a father of an autistic son it is good to see you are raising the profile of the autistic spectrum. Really, you should be proud of yourselves
• I think you guys have it down to a pretty fine art
• Thanks so much for facilitating me in this amazing experience, I am very glad I got a place with you guys
• Everyone was great and your enthusiasm, optimism and excitement you sustained from the beginning to the end was fantastic. You really were a great support and made me feel welcome as part of a team. Thank you for all your hard work!
• You are great because it is very personal where running for a bigger charity is less so
• A huge thank you from me to Laura and the NAS team for a great, much-needed post-race feed and rub-down!!!
• What a fantastic day, and thank you and the Team for making it even more special. Your attention to detail was very reassuring and does the NAS great credit. My son Harry (who has autism) loved the supporters area and post race reception
• Thank you to Laura and the team for making yesterday one of the most incredible days of my life. It was also so good to meet so many other NAS runners with their own reasons and motivations for putting themselves through such torment
• Laura, just a quick note to offer my congratulations to you and your team on the success of yesterday, it was incredibly well organized which helped it make it such a special experience for those taking part
• I wanted to congratulate you guys on a well supported event yesterday. Myself, my daughter and a friend actually spent some time with you guys at Limehouse cheering on all the team and I thought the NAS team, band, cheerleaders and all did an excellent job. I really want to run again in 2009 for the NAS.
• “Just to say a massive thank you for allowing me to run and represent you, and for your encouragement, you’ve all contributed in helping me to make dream come true.” An NAS London Marathon Runner 2008
• “Thank you for making marathon day one of the most incredible days of my life.  It was also so good to meet so many other NAS runners with their own reasons and motivations for putting themselves through all this.”  NAS London Marathon Runner 2008

The adidas Women’s 5k Challenge 2008

• Just a quick note to let you know that both Cathy and I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this years Women’s 5k Challenge and the whole experience from start to finish was just amazing - the feeling of Achievement when we got to the finish line was just amazing!!!!! Knowing that we had reached the finish line was a personal achievement for us both - coupled with raising £500 for such a great charity made the whole experience such a worthy one!!!! - Well worth the pain!!! We are both still aching now so obviously we used muscles that have never been used before!!!!!!
• We would recommend becoming an Autism Angel to anyone that is thinking of participating in any of your future Fundraising Events - Thanks to you all at the NAS for all your hard work and support on the day too - it kept us all going!!! - Looking forward to the next challenge and being Angels for the day again!!!!!!
• The race was fantastic I had not trained at all as I did not have a chance to and planned to walk it but I ended up running and completed the Liverpool course in 39 mins!! I was quite amazed at myself and even introduced myself to some other angels who were there.
• Hey Nat, just thought I'd send you an email to say how great the event was and how much I enjoyed it (although my legs cannot and will not forgive me, ha ha).  My eldest son (who is Autistic) and I even got up on stage to tell everyone why we were there.  I was supported by my husband and my 3 boys.  They coped really well considering the noise from the speakers and the amount of people!  Anyway, thank you, keep me posted on other events especially adventure ones and I'm sure I will take part in next yrs challenge.
• Thank you SO SO much the whole day was just amazing. The best thing I have EVER done. The support from the National Autistic Society all the way round was just fantastic and really carried me through. I just want to say a huge thank you for letting me run for the 'NAS' you do so much to help raise awareness to help those family's affected by Autism so it's been great to be able to give something back. 

The BUPA Great North Run 2008

• What a fantastic day, I had such a good time and the experience of it all will never be forgotten. Amazing! We were blessed to have received the sunshine too! I have started to collect donations and will forward this on in the next couple of weeks. Many thanks to you and everyone involved from the NAS. Thanks for your helpful communications. The refreshments in the marquee went down a treat after the race and staff were lovely. Thank you. I'm already finding out about other BUPA Runs and will see you in Newcastle again next year!
• Just a quick email to thank you for all your support and help over recent months. Thanks for everything and all of your hard work.
• This was my 2nd BUPA Great North Run and I love it just the same as the previous year. This was 5 months of solid, hard work that paid off big style, and what an atmosphere? All those runners and people lining the streets for 13.1 miles, if that isn't worth getting out of bed for then what is? A big thank-you goes to the people at the N.A.S., nice to see you once again at the marquee, you'll be seeing me again in 2009 & 2010 and I look forward to it.
• I think you are an amazing team and you provide a fantastic charity for families. I thought the run was amazing; the experience will stay with me forever. Knowing I have helped to raise money for the NAS and other families makes me proud. Really loved seeing other runners in their NAS vests. We all connected.
• It was brilliant to be part of the Great North Run 2008. Running for such a worthy cause and one so close to my heart. I felt proud to run for the NAS as I know the work they do on autism in invaluable to us parents.
• Had a fantastic day – felt so proud to have raised money for and represented such a deserving charity.