Friday, April 23, 2010

Training Update from Maryke



On track again this week - 5 x 1km sprints with my running buddy tested the limits after a weekend of eating and drinking a little too much - note to self, alcohol and running do not mix :).
Then had a tempo session - 8km and this morning completed a very comfortable 15km before breakfast.
Throw in 2 cycling sessions on the indoor trainer and that was the week.
Feeling good and hoping that I can maintain this intensity all the way to the start line. Had the pleasure of Tanya's (Felicity's mum) company last weekend which was wonderful and great to hear about Felicity in person.

- Maryke

Thursday, April 22, 2010

T-shirts are on their way!

Hooray!! The shirts for our awesome runners have been finalized, ordered and are on their way!! Carley, Sammy, Nicole, Jocelyn & Maryke will all be wearing these shirts on the day of their runs to let everyone know why they are running.


The shirts will look just like this one but in pale blue instead of white.... Thanks to Miss Fliss for being a gracious model for me so I could share the shirt with you.... Doesn't she look soooo impressed - NOT!


FRONT:
Running the Marathon of Autism!

BACK:
(Photo of Fliss)
For Felicity...
City 2 Surf 14km
Sydney Half Marathon 21km
Melbourne Marathon 42km
2010

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Got to be in it to win it.... and support Felicity too!

A HUGE thanks to Jo Atkinson from Breathing Spaces for organising a good old fashioned raffle with the money raised going directly to Miss Fliss!!



For the absolute bargain price of just $2 for one ticket or $10 for 6 tickets you will be in the draw to possibly win some fabulous prizes click HERE to see more details.
"So how do I get my hands on as many tickets as possible?" I hear you say... Easy - just contact Jo at Jo@breathingspaces.com.au and she will help you out.
Be quick though because the lucky winner will be drawn on April 30th.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Through My Eyes

This song: Through My Eyes - sung by Thanh Bui (Music by Fiona Johnson & Lyrics written by Valerie Foley) I came across on the Concert 4 Autism facebook page and loved it so much I just had to share.
I adore the lyrics:
'I'm dreaming of my future
And it's brighter than you know
I'll get there on a different road
When I am ready to go'

it fits Felicity's journey with her Son-Rise Program perfectly!!



See the world through my eyes
It changes shape and it changes size
It's not quite the world you see.
If you could find a way
To look around inside my mind
Maybe you would understand me

(chorus)
'Coz I'm not blind, but I can't always see
I'm not deaf, but things can sound strange to me
I'm not trapped but it's hard to feel free
Imagine what it's like to be me
Imagine what it's like to be me

It's hard for me to try
To think things through or talk like you
Everything can be a blur sometimes
But if you walk along beside me
Hold my hand and guide me
Together, any mountain we can climb

(chorus)
'Coz I'm not blind, but I can't always see
I'm not deaf, but things can sound strange to me
I'm not trapped but it's hard to feel free
Imagine what it's like to be me
Imagine what it's like to be me

I'm dreaming of my future
And it's brighter than you know
I'll get there on a different road
When I am ready to go

I don't need pitty
I don't need tears
I just need someone to help me understand my fears
Show me you believe in me
Let me know that I'm ok
Help me feel safe in the world and I will find my way

'Coz I'm not blind, but I can't always see
I'm not deaf, but things can sound strange to me
I'm not trapped but it's hard to feel free
Imagine what it's like to be me
Imagine what it's like.....

Imagine seeing the world through my eyes.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sugar and Spice... for all things nice!

Who doesn't love a good market? to casually wander around sipping a latte while taking a peek at the handmade goodies from all the different stall holders with no real intention other than to see what's on offer... and 9 times out of 10 find a whole array of unique items that you just had to buy - Bliss. Now make the market a Children's market and add to that a 'Kids Corner' (where the kids will be entertained) which is right next to a 'Dad's Corner' (where hubby can sit and read the paper while keeping half an eye on the kids) and you have my idea of a weekend morning heaven!
"There is no such place" I hear you say... wrong! For those of you lucky enough to be in the Melbourne area your market prayers have been answered with the Sugar & Spice Children's Market!


A new boutique children's market in beautiful Woodend in Victoria. You will be delighted by the gorgeous and unique products for your children, many of them hand made by the lovely person you are buying them from.
Sugar & Spice market is also designed to help support and promote local small businesses that are producing lovely children products - and I have discovered that there are lots and lots of them!! Other gorgeous businesses from surrounding areas are also being sourced as I wish to provide a diverse range of beautiful stalls to the people shopping at the market - variety is the spice of life :)
Another aspect of the market is that any profits made will be donated to local charities (of course this is once marketing needs have been accounted for). I hope that by the market giving back to the local community, the local community will support the market.


This is where (if you can believe it) the Sugar & Spice markets gets even better! Alison, the gorgeous wizz behind these awesome markets has pledged the profits from both the inaugural markets in June and the September markets to Felicity!!! Wow, wow, wow!!

So by shopping at Sugar & Spice not only will you be purchasing gorgeous products for your children, you will also be supporting local businesses and charities! - That's Fliss!

Here are the details you'll need so be sure to pop it on your calendar, in your phone, in your diary, into your computer reminders... heck even put it on a post it and stick it to your bed head!

Sugar & Spice Children's Market Woodend
Where: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend, Victoria (click HERE for directions)
When: 20th June 2010 (& then again September, December and March - date to be announced)
Time: 10am - 2 pm
Entry: FREE


Once you're there go nuts! And be sure to say hi (and a HUGE thanks from us) to Alison if you spot her.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Training Update from Maryke



My training is going well. My long run on the weekend was 16km and I felt fit and strong. I visualised Felicity and her family and put them in a silver bubble with lots of light around them. I then rode for 45 minutes on the stationery bike last night to rest the legs but keep the cardio work going.This morning at 6am it was cold and I got the old familiar Melbourne winter training reminder! I met my running buddy and we did a sprint session - 1.2km, 1km, 800m, 600m, 400m, 200m with a little rest in between each one. It was a tough session with a good head wind coming off the Bay. Today is a well earned rest day - my legs are very fatigued. Yours in running, M xo

MARYKE

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Ready, Set.... Donate!

Woohoo - We have Direct Deposit and Cheque donation details up on the website - www.intellectualdisability.org - and are ready to start taking donations/sponsors!!



There is still a little bit of paper work to get through to get paypal up and running as we have to provide all our official charity details etc etc etc but we promise it is in the works. We will be sure to let you know as soon as it's ready.

So let's get going.... tell one and all!! Let's get behind these amazing runners who are doing and awesome thing for Miss Fliss!

Donations can be made (by Australian residents only) via the below methods:

Direct Deposit:
Account Name: T J Costin
BSB Number: 944 300
Account Number: 012 598 461

Cheque:
Cheques are to be made out to: T J Costin
Please post them to:
Running the Marathon of Autism
T J Costin
P.O. Box 304
Church Point
NSW, 2105

We aim to hit the AU$10,000 mark so every single dollar counts - Thank you!

To find out what your donation is directly supporting click HERE

10 Common Autism Myths

I spotted this over at The Stir blog. I found myself nodding and saying "oh yeah, that one.." out loud so I thought I'd share.

Myth #1:Eye contact is impossible for someone with autism.
Some people with autism find making eye contact with others difficult, but others have no problem whatsoever.
(Take a look at the photo of Miss Fliss in the header of this blog and tell me she can't give eye contact!!)

Myth #2:People with autism can't show affection.
My son is the biggest snuggle bug ever! Being able to snuggle up has never been a problem for him. For some, it is, but not all.
(ummmmm I have many a time been gifted with a big sloppy kiss from Fliss!!)

Myth #3:If a child is progressing, he never had autism.
This is not true. It takes work and patience, but progress is possible!
(There are just too many ways Felicity has shown that progress is so very, very possible to list here!!)

Myth #4:People with autism cannot communicate.
If someone with autism is nonverbal, they have other ways of communicating. Sign language, pictures, computers, etc. are all forms of communication. Just because a person can't talk, it doesn't mean they can't communicate.
(sooooo, when Miss Fliss comes up to me in the morning with her hairbrush and hair ties... hands them to me then turns around and leans her head/hair into me to be brushed.. This is not communication?!?... I think there is a mistake here!!)

Myth #5:Autism is the result of bad or neglectful parenting.
The "refrigerator mother" myth has been around for some time, and I'm actually surprised it still exists. Almost every parent of a child with autism I've met is very kind, loving, and incredibly patient. They also spend much of their time feeling needlessly guilty about their child's autism, so this myth is less than helpful.
(there are many other things than can be the result of 'bad' or 'neglectful' parenting but Autism just isn't one of them)

(This one gave me a giggle...)
Myth #6:If you have autism, you can repeat the whole phone book or know what day of the week April 23 will fall on in 4 years.
While most children with autism are very smart, an autistic savant is rare. We can all thank the movie Rainman for this little myth. So in the future, please do not ask a mom to get her kid to perform parlor tricks for you.
(If I had a dollar for when I have heard "so she must be able to do really advanced Maths and stuff, Hey?" we would never have to fund-raise again!!)

Myth #7:Children with autism do not want friends.
All children want friends. Some can show this is a better way than others, but I think all children want a friend. Allot of kids with autism just can't figure out how to go about it.
(Miss Fliss is like a celebrity around our homes! She has more friends than I can count!)

Myth #8:Kids with autism don't get their feelings hurt.
If you've ever seen my son's face after a kid has refused to play with him, you'd know this is not true. They might not get mad and yell at someone, or sit down and cry over it, but it's just as easy to hurt a child with autism's feelings as any other. Please remind your children to be kind.
(Just because you have Autism doesn't mean you aren't human!)

Myth #9:Better discipline would get their acts together.
Boy, do I love that one! I've been told on many occasions that all I need to do is spank him. Another good one, "Let me keep him for a few days, I'll fix him." You can't spank or yell autism away any easier than you can spank cancer away.
(Ahhhh yes, nothing a good smack on the bum wouldn't fix.... I think NOT!)

Myth # 10:If a person with autism can't communicate, he can't understand you either.
If someone tapes your mouth closed, do your ears plug up as well? Comprehension skills and expressive skills can develop at different speeds and often do with autism. Just because a child can not say "I love you" does not mean he doesn't hear you when you tell him you love him.
(just like when a parent tells their 'non-verbal' newborn baby "I love you" without expecting a response...)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Welcome to the Felicity Files!

So here we are... a blog!
A place for us, Felicity's family, friends and supporters to share with you what we will now call: The Felicity Files! It could be an update on Felicity's Son-Rise Program, a post from one of Felicity's volunteers, a snippet of info from one of the amazing runners doing the Marathon for Autism, of maybe just a photo we have snapped of Felicity's day, you'll have to stay tuned to see.


Why not click on 'Follow' over there in the sidebar to be sure you're up to date on The Felicity Files.

See you soon xxx