A BOY from near Conwy walked at least 10,000 steps each day from March 1 – April 2 to raise money to support autism projects across the UK and Ireland.
Matthew Lokier, 16, from Rowen, has a diagnosis of autism, and traits of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
But he did not let that stop him from completing “Walk for Autism 2023” challenge, which also aims to improve the quality of life of people with autism.
In total, he walked 303,011 steps, and has surpassed his £500 target by raising £743, with people still able to donate.
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Matthew’s mother, Anwen, said: “I feel really proud of him. He’s carried on doing it every day.
“At the end of the school day, if he and his classmates have done well, they get 10 or 15 minutes to choose what they want to do.
“Normally, Matthew would choose to go on the computer or iPad, but he just wanted to keep doing his steps.
“He’s still walking around now, getting his steps up, even though his challenge has finished!”
He wanted to show how determined he is to raise funds and awareness of exactly how the disability affects people with autism, and that they are “different, not less” than any other person.
Matthew joined thousands of people across the UK and Ireland who also walked 10,000 steps a day between March 26 and April 2.
But he chose to start his own steps challenge more than three weeks earlier on March 1, to mark Autism Awareness Day.
The challenge is part of the sixth annual Walk for Autism - last year, more than 3,800 walkers stepped up to the challenge of Walk for Autism 2022.
These funds have supported thousands of autistic individuals and funded many projects, which encourage the pursuit of specialised interests, promote physical activity and help autistic adults and children to socialise in supportive communities.
The organisation was founded in the 1970s by Pat Minshull, a dedicated mother of a child with autism.
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