Step Up for FASD at Leeds Castle Raises Awareness and Vital Funds
As part of FASD Awareness Month, families, friends, supporters and fundraisers came together on Saturday 20 September for our Step Up for FASD 5K Walk around the beautiful grounds of Leeds Castle.
The event was a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), celebrate our incredible community and raise vital funds to support the work of FASD Awareness.
Throughout September, organisations and individuals across the world come together to increase understanding of FASD and challenge misconceptions surrounding this lifelong disability. Our walking event provided the perfect opportunity to start conversations, share experiences and shine a spotlight on the strengths, challenges and support needs of people living with FASD.
Walking to Start the Conversation
This year's walk also supported the Red Shoes Rock campaign, a powerful awareness initiative that encourages people to start conversations about FASD. Many participants wore bright red shoes, red laces or red accessories during the walk, helping to spark curiosity and create opportunities to talk about FASD with others. Throughout the route, walkers were encouraged to share their experiences, ask questions and learn more about FASD. From families living with FASD to professionals, friends and supporters, every conversation helped raise awareness and build understanding.
Learning Along the Way
The walk featured several awareness stops along the path, designed to inspire participants to learn, reflect, and connect with each other.
At the first stop, walkers discovered a series of FASD Facts created by children and young people living with FASD. Their messages emphasised that each individual's experience with FASD is unique and that understanding and acceptance can greatly impact daily life.
Some of the messages shared included:
FASD is a lifelong disability.
People living with FASD have many strengths and talents.
Sometimes our brains work differently and we need learning and communicating.
Kindness, patience and understanding matter.
Every person living with FASD is unique.
Hearing these insights directly from children and young people living with FASD created powerful conversations throughout the day and highlighted the importance of listening to lived experience.
Fundraising Success
Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone who took part or donated so far the event has raised £2,290!
Every pound raised helps us continue delivering awareness campaigns, resources, family support, training and community events that improve understanding of FASD and support individuals and families living with FASD across the UK.
Special Thanks to Sonny and Eleanor
A huge and heartfelt thank you goes to Sonny and Eleanor, whose amazing fundraising efforts raised more than £2,000 between them. Their enthusiasm, determination and commitment to raising awareness of FASD inspired everyone around them. Not only did they help generate vital funds for the charity, but they also helped start important conversations about FASD during Awareness Month through the Red Shoes Rock campaign.
Sonny and Eleanor, we are incredibly proud of what you achieved. Thank you for helping us make such a difference.
Thank You
We would like to thank everyone who walked, volunteered, donated, sponsored participants, shared our event on social media and supported us throughout FASD Awareness Month.
Together, through every step taken, every red shoe worn, every conversation started and every pound raised, we are helping to build a future where people living with FASD are better understood, better supported and given every opportunity to thrive.
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