Together_ well find the missing pieces

							Together, we’ll find the missing pieces
May 2006

Our aim is 'to raise as much money as possible so that Autism Speaks can fund, promote and support research worldwide into the causes of autism spectrum disorders.' In order to achieve this goal we do need YOUR help! Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is FUN! The simplest ideas are often the best so think about what you and your family/friends most enjoy doing, then turn it around and use it to raise money! You may find it useful to set yourself a fund-raising target - then break it down into smaller chunks - you will be surprised how quickly small amounts of money can add up to a larger sum of money! Finally, think of your REAL REASON for doing this and keep on reminding yourself! Here are just some ideas to get you started. Why not keep in touch and tell us about yours! Who else can help your walk efforts? Other friends Other relatives Parents Classmates Client Plumber Customer Lawyer Electrician Bank Manager Dry Cleaner

Pre-Walk talks Our Talks – ‘Solving the Puzzle of Autism' are filling up fast – so if you are interested in coming, please register online or ring Lynn Hart on 01491 412311. What should you do next? If you haven't already done so...Set up an online fundraising page. Log onto http://www.justgiving.com/ autismspeaks/raisemoney/ Use the link to email everyone you know; friends, family, work colleagues. People tend to donate more when they are giving online and it is so much easier for you! No sponsor forms to fill in and no money to collect! It really is so easy. Peter Alchin did just that! He has set up a page asking for donations to Autism Speaks rather than gifts for his forthcoming marriage to Sue. Check out his page on the link above.

How to raise £100 in 5 weeks Here are some simple steps to help you raise £100 for Walk for Autism Research. Raising money should be easy and fun. This process can be done in 5 weeks, with 2 steps per week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Put in your own contribution of £10 Ask your spouse or significant other for £10 Ask a friend for £10 Ask a neighbour for £10 Ask a relative for £10 Ask your boss or colleague for £10 Ask your doctor for £10 Ask your child's teacher for £10 Ask your local shopkeeper for £10 Ask your dentist for £10 £10 £20 £30 £40 £50 £60 £70 £80 £90 £100

Set yourself a target to raise. Aim high! There are lots of ways in which you can raise money prior to the Walk; here are a few ideas: If you have a birthday or anniversary between now and the event, ask for donations instead of gifts. Tell your friends and family, they will be giving to a good cause as well as to you. Host a party, BBQ, Coffee Morning. Host a theme party and charge people to attend or host a coffee morning at home or work and sell cakes too. Ask for money up front - if you are not using the on-line fundraising page ask everyone who sponsors you to give their donation right away. This will save you having to track everyone down after the event. P.R. Contact your local paper to tell them that you are doing the walk, newspapers love personal stories. Provide the web address of your fundraising page, in case a reader wants to sponsor you. Tell the editor about why you are walking and about Autism Speaks.

You just raised £100 for the Walk for Autism Research and it was easy.

If you know them, ask!

Ways in which you can help us Gift Aid Gift Aided donations allow us to reclaim tax on your behalf (e.g. £10 with Gift Aid becomes £12.80). Make sure all your sponsors (who are UK tax payers) provide full name and address and tick the GIFT AID box. Corporate Sponsorship We are always looking for sponsorship - cash, media or major in-kind donors of either goods or services. All sponsors receive special recognition for their donation - whether it be cash, promotion and publicity or goods or services for the Walk. All sponsors will be recognized on our website and depending on the donation/sponsorship, we will prominently display their logo on Walk Day, offer an information booth/tent at the Walk and give them the opportunity to develop promotional campaigns tied into the event. Could your company be interested? Special Sponsorship Recognition is also available for major donors of goods and services, staff hours and auction prizes, depending on the cash value of the donation. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, call Lynn Hart on (01491) 412311 or email lynn.hart@autismspeaks.org.uk

Organise Fund-Raising events Hold a quiz/theme night at your local club/pub Hold a cricket/golf/squash/tennis/ football/netball tournament! Charge an entrance fee! Instead of Birthday presents, ask for donations Organise a raffle and ask local businesses to donate prizes - you will be surprised at how generous some organisations can be! Hold a BBQ, supper party, coffee morning or Ladies Lunch! Write or ring a local company/group and ask them to to sponsor your team. Some companies operate a match-giving scheme, where they agree to match whatever you raise.

Letter Writing is the key to success Write to Family, Friends and Colleagues. Remember to include anyone with whom you have contact e.g. doctors, dentists, cleaners, hairdressers, people at the gym. Write and say what you are doing and tell your story. State your personal fundraising goal - the higher the better. Include some information about the important work being done by Autism speaks. Give instructions - use your Just Giving Link or who they should make the cheque out to, where to send it and remind them that a donation can be GIFT AIDED. The more people you write to - the more money you can raise! Events organised by our supporters People are starting to think of

Organise your own Car Boot Sale

Some for the children. Ask your child's teacher if the school will hold a fancy dress day and charge £1 for each child to dress up! OR fill a large jar with sweeties and charge to guess how many in the jar? The prize is easy to guess! Capitalise on the most annoying ringing mobiles at work! Charge offenders £1 every time their phone rings!

Give up chocolate or alcohol or cigarettes for a week - or even longer!

Our enormous thanks go to.... ...Vera and Jack Gibson. They have two gorgeous grandsons, Michael and Christopher who have both been diagnosed with autism. Thankfully, they are both making wonderful progress; they love Thomas The Tank Engine and Beatrix Potters Tale of Timmy Tiptoes. They now associate it with Vera and it is always waiting for her when she goes to see them. “In fact” says Vera, “they know it off by heart". She reads a few words and stops, they finish off the sentence. "It really is great fun”. Vera says that putting them on a gluten-free and no dairy products diet has made a terrific difference. Vera and Jack said when they decided to celebrate their Golden Wedding, they felt that they didn't need anything and thought that friends and family might like to make a donation to autism research instead. Vera says ‘everybody was delighted with the idea and the day surpassed all expectations. We also felt that this would be a way of making people aware of autism. Cancer charities etc. have so much publicity, but we do not hear very much about autism. I have a strong faith and ‘God helps those who help themselves' and that is why I did it. What would I say to people in our situation? I would say keep praying – but we also have to be practical, make some cakes and sell them to neighbours. Have a table at a car boot sale – I intend doing this - it is also a good way of getting rid of ones rubbish.' Vera and Jack have raised over an amazing £2,000 – we send them our warmest congratulations on their Golden Wedding Anniversary and our deepest thanks. We would LOVE to hear more of your ideas and ways of raising money for Autism Speaks – please don't be shy – click here to send me an email or drop me a line c/o Autism Speaks and don't forget to send a photo! If you have any comments or questions, would like to give feedback or need more information, please dont hesitate to contact me, using the details below. Lynn Hart, Project Administrator, Autism Speaks lynn.hart@autismspeaks.org lynn.hart@autismspeaks.org.uk Tel 01491 412311

different ways of raising money – Karen Thomas from the Wyevalley School in Bucks is arranging a ‘Musty' day when the children pay £1 not to wear their school uniform – we think it is a great idea and can't wait to hear how Karen gets on! Maria Makri from London has

registered her team of 6 people for the Walk and has promised to raise £500 – I met Maria at the National Autism Awareness Day in Leicester Square and she promised to come along to the walk then and there! Maria says: "My son Christopher is 12 years old he has Aspergers syndrome, his life has been one of totally confusion, having some good days but many difficult ones. Aspergers does not just affect my son it affects parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents the list is endless. We need to raise money so we can find out why autism happens and then may be we can find peace for people who are affected. We are a group of six people who are a mum, brother, sister, auntie and cousin to a very special Aspergers boy, who shows such courage everyday to get through this very confusing life that he lives in. We are going to do our utmost, to get people to dig deep so they can sponsor us for the walk for autism".