Why am I running a 10K in a suit and a pair of hiking boots you ask?
Partly because I don't know anyone else who has (I could run in a suit with trainers, but it just looks wrong), and partly to raise funds and interest in STAY UP LATE in Scotland and the Learning Disability Group of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
You know when feel the urge to share something that you took part in on Facebook - the good stuff that you talk to friends about months later - "remember the time that we did this..."
STAY UP LATE wants people with disabilities and Autism to have more of these opportunities to connect to people, make great stories, have experiences and create memories. Life is not just about existing, but really living, and that includes experiencing all the things that float your boat.
Trying new things, experimenting, meeting new people, and challenging anything that gets in the way.
The first thing to say about STAY UP LATE, is that it’s not just about staying up late…It started in response to people with learning disabilities having to go home early from gigs and nights out due to inflexible staff rotas (see more on stayuplate.org) Paul Richards started STAY UP LATE and now the Gig Buddies project has even reached Australia!
In Scotland we have made some progress but we could do so much more, and so Michael McEwan got in touch with Keith Etherington from In Control Scotland (keith.e@in-controlscotland.org.uk) to help organise an open meeting about STAY UP LATE in Scotland.
The first meeting took place in the Tramway on the 14th of March, and lots of ideas were shared (contact june.d@in-controlscotland.org.uk for a copy of the notes, also you can leave contact details if you want to get involved). We are looking for like minded people to get involved so we can create more opportunities across Scotland, build confidence, support creative solutions and challenge barriers.
Below is the link to the fundraising page - money is being split between STAY UP LATE in Scotland and Learning Disability Group of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
This is a local independent group who I have been involved with for a long time and do some voluntary fundraising for. Contact ldgroupa@gmail.com for more info (The group is supported by Grampian Opportunities). Please donate something small if you can, share and get involved if possible! You can come and cheer me on if you are in Aberdeen on the 14th of May, thanks for reading!
Cheers,
Alastair
https://www.gofundme.com/suited-and-booted-10k-challenge