Super effort as Fen family complete charity challenge

A family has raised a whopping £2,300 for a cause close to their hearts by completing a series of challenges.

Kylie and Adam Bates decided to take on the Super 7 Challenge promoted by Christine McGuinness wife of TV presenter Paddy McGuinness in aid of the National Autistic Society.

The couple from Wisbech chose to take part in the national fundraising effort because their eldest son Jacob, three, was diagnosed with autism last year.

Together with Jacob and his younger brother, Leo, two, Adam and Kylie took on the task of completing seven days of activities covering 7km each day.

They walked, jogged and cycled for the week of fundraising completing the challenge on Easter Sunday.

Kylie said: "I heard about the Super 7 Challenge through Christine McGuinness on Instagram, she's an ambassador for the charity as she has three autistic children.

"I thought it sounded like a good idea. Everyone has had a rough time over the last year with lockdown and everything else that has been happening and I thought it would be nice to do something positive, so I suggested to Adam we do the challenge."

She explained how Jacob came to be diagnosed with the neurological condition after she noticed he was not doing some of the things other children of his age were.

Kylie said:"As a first time mum you tend to compare your baby with other people's - I know you shouldn't but I'm sure everybody does. And I started to realise he wasn't doing some of the things others his age were and I started to to wonder why.

"Then when Jacob had his routine health check at two and a half it was suggested he might have speech delay and they suggested putting him into nursery early.

"So he went to Wisbech Day Nursery and they were fantastic and suggested he should have an early years assessment and that's when we got the diagnosis. He is said to be on the mild spectrum.

"He is now at Peckover Nursery and they are brilliant with him - he has come on leaps and bounds. He has an amazing imagination and I don't know many three and a half year olds who can count to 100 and then back down again to one. He knows his alphabet and shapes and is really very bright. It is not nice that he has the label of being autistic, but it does mean he is getting the support he needs.

"If the one thing that can come out of this is to raise awareness of autism and other hidden disabilities then that would be great. If the money could be used to help raise knowledge in schools that would also be good. We learn about all sorts of things in school, but hidden disabilities are not taught about.

"It would also be great if the money raised could help another family get the support we have had for Jacob."

The family have raised over £2,300 so far with £500 donated via JustGiving, £600 from their employers Asda, sponsors for Adam have donated £500 and for Kylie £300 and Peckover Nursery raised £260 from a cake sale plus £135 via Facebook.

To donate visit the couple's Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/KylieBates18