Day 18 ✅️
Day 17 ✅️
Days 6-16 ✅️
Such a delayed post. Struggled for nearly 2 weeks with an infection making me relatively house bound 😫. My husband Aaron has kindly been helping with the step count 🩷. Going to finish the rest of the challenge out strong 💪.Delays in Days 4 +5 🥺
Rough couple of days with both me and my daughter being unwell. Both not out of the woods yet but really hoping things are back on track by the end of this week 🙏.I'll still ensure any steps not met daily WILL be made up before the 31st!! 👟✅️
Day 3 - Add on ✅️
Busy day clearly! Got in another 3103 steps today! 🙌👟✅️Day 3 ✅️
Day 3 done! Between my footy team losing and wanting to walk off frustration 🤣 I've hit my 7k steps today early!7057 steps 👟✅️
Day 2 ✅️
Day 2 done! Abit late to get steps in due to afew appointments today but got it in 💪👟7022 steps!
Day 1 ✅️
Thankyou to those who have donated to my fundraiser so far! 🥹🩷👟7159 steps today 💪
I'm walking 7k steps a day this May to support Autistic Australians
Hi everyone
I haven't done anything like this before however recently this cause has become very personal for our family.
As some of you may know, our beautiful little girl Emily on April 7th, 2025 has recieved a diagnosis after over 8 months of lengthy appointments and assessments of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 3.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) commonly known as Autism, is a spectrum and presents in every child differently. In Emily's case, her brain processes differently to a neurotypical child's and she can easily become frustrated, overstimulated and require alot of sensory stimuli. She struggles with communication and can only on occasion get 1 to 2 clear words out at a time, however these aren't in context and are mainly currently what is described as echolailia (repeating a word only because she's heard it- not being used in context). She 'talks' and babbles in her own language which we mostly cannot understand so she is still classed as 'non-verbal'. Communication with Emily has become a new challenge that we are working towards and incorporates alot of gestures and pointing to things, even starting the process of learning sign language or AUSLAN with her to try and help us understand her daily needs. In the future she may possibly use a communication tablet or other technology to help further.
After alot of pushing and advocating and a extremely loving and caring Paediatrician, Emily is now attending regular therapy multiple times a week with Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Physiotherapy through the hospital and will continue private therapies while working with the NDIS, Bushkids and hopefully ECDP (Early Childhood Development Programs) through one of our local schools for children with interlectual disabilities aged 3-7. These therapies and interventions for Emily are lifelong and now a normal part of our routines.
We are so grateful that through continued therapy, unwavering love from us and those around her that she'll continue to be the wonderful, smiling, happy toddler she's always been.
We are aware that like it initially was to us, Autism is still very much an unspoken and uneducated disability that still needs much work, research and advocacy to help not only Emily but all children. Early intervention and gaining awareness about Autism helps each child and their families feel seen, heard and supported.
I have decided that this May through the Aspect Autism Spectrum Australia Foundation that I will be walking 7k steps each day for the month of May with my fund goal of $100.00 to help raise money and awareness for Autism. By May 31st, I hope to have walked over 217,000 steps!
Any money contributed to my funding goal raises much needed funds for research, support and help for families with Autistic children.
I am not however solely doing this for a monetary donation to this organisation as important as that is; I'm doing this for Emily. So our darling daughter can grow up in the most loving, supportive environment possible knowing her mother and father love and care for her so much and will continue to advocate and support her in every step of her journey together as a family in a world where Autism isn't entirely understood just yet.
I believe as time goes on, the world will become kinder in understanding just how extraordinary Autistic children really are, but until then I will continue to advocate as much as I can for my beautiful baby girl in any way that I can.
If you are at all able, even $1 would contribute to making the world for Emily to grow and learn in more accessible and understanding of her needs.
I have linked my profile below and will be tracking my progress daily on the webpage and here on Facebook/Instagram for the month.
We have a canvas blown up and framed in Emily's room that we found and loved at about 12 months of age, before we started on this assessment and diagnosis journey. It couldn't describe our Emily more perfectly and reminds us that we are so, so grateful and lucky to be her parents.
Regardless if you are able to donate or not, both Aaron and I thank you all for your kind words and thoughts for our family during this time and can't wait to keep sharing and updating you all on the wonderful things our Emily gets up to throughout the rest of the year and throughout her life. Well continue to advocate and cheer on Emily and all Autistic children- one step at a time
. My Walk Stats
Steps
260,179
My Goal
217,000
Craig and Kathryn Huckins
$100
Thank you so much to my biggest supporter, Craig and Kathryn Huckins, for donating a trailblazing $100 to help create a more autism-friendly world.
Thank you Tamika for doing this for our beautiful granddaughter Emily.