Autistica

Will for Autistica

Will Harborne

Will Harborne

My Story

UPDATE:

Tomorrow is race day! Thanks so much to everyone who has supported me so far, it genuinely helps. If you have just landed on my fundraising page or were thinking of donating, there’s still time to chip in before I hit the finish line. Every bit helps a truly fantastic charity and I’m very grateful.
___


I’m running the 2026 London Marathon for Autistica because the autistic people close to me - family members, friends, and brilliant colleagues -  face barriers that limit what they can achieve and how fully they can participate in life.

The long waits for diagnosis, lack of tailored support, higher anxiety rates, employment challenges (autistic employment rate hovers around 30% vs. ~80% general population), and inaccessible public spaces are real obstacles. These aren’t abstract statistics; they affect people I know and care about, whose unique perspectives and talents make work, friendships, and life far more interesting and innovative.

Today we’re still working with outdated societal systems that treat difference as a problem instead of a strength. That needs to change.

Autistica is the UK's leading charity working for a future where neurodivergent people are understood, supported, and empowered, not sidelined or misdiagnosed.

Running 26.2 miles is a small effort compared to the daily realities many autistic people navigate. Every pound I raise funds research and campaigns that can open up more opportunities and better support for the next generation.

If you value the originality and insight that neurodivergent minds bring, please consider donating - it will help make meaningful change happen.



Autistica


Rather than focusing on day to day support, Autistica back up their campaigning with research and push for maximum impact at a societal level. They focus on achieving policy shifts, employer standards, and well evidenced healthcare protocols. The charity does not hand out platitudes; it funds research, lobbies Westminster, and publishes evidence-based tools that work in the real world.

Autistica’s six 2030 goals:

1. All autistic people will have proven support from day one
2. The employment rate for autistic people will double
3. Autistic people will have proven treatments for anxiety
4. Public spaces will be more accessible for neurodivergent people
5. Every autistic adult will be offered a yearly, tailored health check
6. Attitudes to autistic people will change

Autistica

Raising for:

Autistica
53%

Funded

  • Target
    £5,000
  • Raised so far
    £2,670
  • Number of donors
    23

My Story

UPDATE:

Tomorrow is race day! Thanks so much to everyone who has supported me so far, it genuinely helps. If you have just landed on my fundraising page or were thinking of donating, there’s still time to chip in before I hit the finish line. Every bit helps a truly fantastic charity and I’m very grateful.
___


I’m running the 2026 London Marathon for Autistica because the autistic people close to me - family members, friends, and brilliant colleagues -  face barriers that limit what they can achieve and how fully they can participate in life.

The long waits for diagnosis, lack of tailored support, higher anxiety rates, employment challenges (autistic employment rate hovers around 30% vs. ~80% general population), and inaccessible public spaces are real obstacles. These aren’t abstract statistics; they affect people I know and care about, whose unique perspectives and talents make work, friendships, and life far more interesting and innovative.

Today we’re still working with outdated societal systems that treat difference as a problem instead of a strength. That needs to change.

Autistica is the UK's leading charity working for a future where neurodivergent people are understood, supported, and empowered, not sidelined or misdiagnosed.

Running 26.2 miles is a small effort compared to the daily realities many autistic people navigate. Every pound I raise funds research and campaigns that can open up more opportunities and better support for the next generation.

If you value the originality and insight that neurodivergent minds bring, please consider donating - it will help make meaningful change happen.



Autistica


Rather than focusing on day to day support, Autistica back up their campaigning with research and push for maximum impact at a societal level. They focus on achieving policy shifts, employer standards, and well evidenced healthcare protocols. The charity does not hand out platitudes; it funds research, lobbies Westminster, and publishes evidence-based tools that work in the real world.

Autistica’s six 2030 goals:

1. All autistic people will have proven support from day one
2. The employment rate for autistic people will double
3. Autistic people will have proven treatments for anxiety
4. Public spaces will be more accessible for neurodivergent people
5. Every autistic adult will be offered a yearly, tailored health check
6. Attitudes to autistic people will change