Eight in quest for autism awareness
ROB KNOWLES
A GROUP of eight people walking from Durban to Cape Town to raise awareness about and funds for autism, arrived in Port Alfred last weekend.
Calling themselves the Big Autism Thing, the team set out a month ago and plan to reach their destination in early June, just less than six weeks away. The team comprises organiser Angus Moore and his wife, Rosemary, Wayne Rutherford, Philip Earl, Paul Ringrose, Gordon Moore, Melissa Naude and social worker Nolwazi Magwaza.
By Monday they had already arrived in Kenton-on-Sea, but they journeyed by car back to Port Alfred for previously arranged meeting with Ndlambe mayor Sipho Tandani. But Tandani did not keep his appointment.
| LEAVING FOOTPRINTS: Participants in the "Big Autism Thing” walk from Durban to Cape Town passed through Port Alfred over the weekend. From left (standing) are Wayne Rutherford, Philip Earle, Paul Ringrose, and Rosemary, Angus and Gordon Moore. Seated in front are Melissa Naude and Nolwazi Magwaza Picture: ROB KNOWLES |
"Fact is,” said Moore, "most people don't know anything about autism or how many people are affected by this mental disorder. It is not immediately obvious that someone is autistic just by looking at them, although it may be possible to detect there is something different in their behaviour after a time.”
One of the walkers, Melissa Naude, is herself autistic and suffers from Asperger's syndrome, one of the milder autism spectrum disorders.
"I joined the walk in order to raise awareness for autism. I have had lots of opportunities presented to me, and I would like to help others receive the same chances as me,” said Naude.
"I have faced many challenges,” she said. "For a start, it is difficult to get into schools as parents, children and teachers have usually no idea what autism is. When I was first in school the children would tease me and call me names like ‘stupid' and ‘retard'. But I rose above all that and eventually became a prefect at Durban North College.”
Although there is no cure, Naude believes early diagnosis is a critical factor in helping those people afflicted by autism.
"We need to set up support groups where people can share their experiences. We need to set up groups in the rural areas where autism is not understood at all,” said Naude.
Moore told TotT the journey so far had been hard but satisfying.
"Travelling through the Transkei presented its own set of problems,” he said, "but we managed to get through it. And, unlike other walks, this one is actually getting easier as we get closer to the finish.”
Moore, who works for Checkers in Durban, said he intended the walk to be held as an annual event.
"We need sponsors,” he said. "So far we have had a lot of interest and sponsorship including Checkers, Hi-Tec, Samsung and many others.”
While in Port Alfred, Willows Caravan Park provided free accommodation to the walkers and Rosehill Spar allowed the team to set up outside the store and sell their own branded T-shirts.
"People have been very supportive everywhere we've been,” said Moore, explaining that they had never had to pay for accommodation during the entire trip.
On Monday, the team planned to walk from Kenton-on-Sea to Alexandria.
If you have a child or know an adult who suffers from autism and would like more information, contact Association for Autism (AFA) on www.autismassociation.org. If you would like to assist the team in the Big Autism Thing visit the web site at www.thebigautismthing.co.za. Donations can also be made on line at this site.
