Devotions

Eight days. Done. I'll be honest — when I signed up for this, I wasn't sure what the week would look like. As an autistic person with social anxiety, and a house full of beautiful, complex, neurodiverse children, some days were a big ask. But here we are. Today is World Autism Acceptance Day. And I can think of no better day to finish. Acceptance isn't a one-day event. It's a daily choice — to see people as they are, to make room, to listen, to include. I hope these thousands of steps through ordinary streets, quieter days, and harder ones have nudged that forward even slightly. Thank you to everyone who donated, shared, and cheered us on. You are, as the Walk for Autism team said, absolutely amazing. 💙 Donations are still open: 👉 walkforautism.co.uk/fundraiser/DavidHoldsworth We are not missing pieces. We never were. ♾️

Seven days. One to go. Tomorrow — 2nd April — is World Autism Acceptance Day. And here we are, walking right into it. That feels fitting in a way that's hard to put into words. This whole week has been a journey — literally and figuratively. There have been big step days and quieter ones. Days where the motivation came easily and days where simply getting up and going was the whole victory. That's real life. That's autistic life. And I think it's worth naming that, because the world Autism Initiatives is working to build isn't a world where autistic people have to perform wellness or pretend the hard days don't exist. It's a world where every person is accepted — on the difficult days as much as the good ones. Tomorrow we mark Acceptance Day. Not awareness — acceptance. There's a difference. Awareness says "we know you exist." Acceptance says "you belong here." One more day. Let's finish strong. 💙 If you haven't y...

Six days in, and we are officially on the home stretch. ​If Day 5 was about crossing the halfway line, Day 6 is about steady persistence. The initial novelty has faded, replaced by the rhythmic reality of the task. Much like the autistic experience itself, this challenge isn't always about big breakthroughs—it’s about the quiet strength of showing up day after day, moving forward despite the sensory noise or exhaustion. ​With only two days left, the finish line is finally in sight. Every step taken today is a reminder that while the journey can be long, we don't have to walk it alone. ​ The Goal is in Sight: I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me so far. Every penny raised helps Autism Initiatives continue their vital work. ​If you’d like to help me finish strong, you can donate here: 👉 walkforautism.co.uk/fundraiser/DavidHoldsworth ​"We are not missing pieces. We are the whole picture." 💙

Five days in. And that means we're over halfway. There's something that feels significant about that — crossing the midpoint of a challenge. Monday has arrived, the weekend's slower pace is behind us, and the week stretches ahead with a little more structure. For those of us who are autistic, that can actually be a relief. Routine is a friend. After a quieter Sunday, today felt like a return to rhythm. One step at a time, one foot in front of the other. That's really all any of us can do, isn't it? Not the whole eight days in one go — just today's steps, today's effort, today's small act of showing up. I've been thinking a lot about why this walk matters — not just the fundraising (though every penny is genuinely needed and appreciated), but what it represents. Walking is ordinary. Everybody does it. And yet, for families like mine, ordinary life carries an extraordinary weight. The sensory load. The waiting lists. The appointments. The a...

Three days in, and something has shifted. Day 1 was excitement. Day 2 was determination. Day 3? Day 3 is where it becomes a rhythm. The steps are no longer something I have to think about — they're just part of the day now. Out the door, one foot in front of the other, and the miles take care of themselves. There's something almost meditative about it. As an autistic adult, I find a lot of comfort in routine and repetition, and there's a quiet joy in knowing that today, like yesterday, and the day before — I walked. I kept going. That might sound small, but for anyone who knows the particular weight of sensory overload, anxiety, or simply a world that isn't always built with you in mind, keeping going is never really small. We're nearly halfway through the 8-day challenge now, and the steps are stacking up beautifully. The fundraiser is doing the same — thank you to every single person who has donated or shared the page. You are quite literally helping keep places l...

Day 1 is in the bag, and Day 2 is well underway! The legs are holding up, the steps are being counted, and if you've been kind enough to check the fundraiser page, you'll see we've already blown past the original £50 goal — which is honestly humbling. Every donation, big or small, represents someone who gets it. Someone who understands why this matters. So from the bottom of my heart: thank you. 💙 Today I've been thinking about why I keep moving — not just in a fundraising sense, but in a deeper one. For our family, moving forward is what we do every single day. Sarah, Solomon, Gabriel, Lilianna, Ezra — none of them get to press pause. Neither do I. And so walking 10,000 steps a day feels less like a challenge and more like a small act of solidarity with everything they carry. One step at a time. One day at a time. That's the rhythm of our life. Six days still to go, and the 80,000-step target is firmly in our sights. I'd love to bring as many of you along for ...

Today is officially Day 1 of the Walk for Autism challenge, and my legs are already warmed up — because I haven't exactly been waiting around! Over the past couple of months I've been quietly clocking up steps ahead of this week, so by the time the official 8-day challenge kicked off this morning (26th March – 2nd April), I'd already built up a bit of momentum. The goal is 10,000 steps a day, every day, raising money for Autism Initiatives — and I'm going into it with a decent head start on the 80,000-step target. If you've seen my fundraiser page, you'll already know why this cause sits so close to my heart. I'm walking for my wife Sarah, for Solomon, Gabriel, Lilianna, and Ezra — a family that is, in every sense, living and breathing neurodiversity every single day. I'm also walking as an autistic adult myself, because I know firsthand how much it means to have a community that simply gets you. And speaking of community — later in April I...

Please sponsor me! As you know autism is a cause very close to my heart so I am taking on the walking challenge WALK FOR AUTISM to raise funds for Autism Initiatives Group.  The challenge week for my 8 days of walking 10,000 steps a day is from 26th March to 2nd April.  I have already started adding to my pre the official week step count.  Please support me and go to my fundraising page https://www.walkforautism.co.uk/fundraisers/DavidHoldsworth and donate as much as you can  .   Thank you so much! 

If you already sponsored me: Thank you so much for taking the time to sponsor me!  This will definitely cheer me on as I take on my personal walking challenge ... 10,000 steps a day every day for 8 days is not going to be easy. Although I have made a start on steps outside this time.  Your donation means a lot and will really help the charity Autism Initiatives Group which is working so hard to improve the lives of autistic children and adults and also support their families and carers. This has been a very hard year and every donation really helps  Autism is a cause very close to my heart and your donation is so appreciated and will make a real positive difference.    Thank you! Donate here if not done already. Thanks. 

Sponsors welcome! 

​Hold onto your hats (and your honey pots), because I have a new teammate for my sponsored walk for autism ! ​Everyone, meet Fluffy . ​He’s small, he’s round, and his stamina for walking is... well, mostly dependent on how well I carry him. But don't let the stuffing fool you; Fluffy is on a mission! He’s joined the team as my official mascot and morale booster. ​Fluffy’s Trail Essentials ​A bear of his stature doesn't just "go for a walk." He prepares. Here is what Fluffy is packing for our big adventure: ​ Extra Fluff-Support: For those steep hills. ​ Invisible Hiking Boots: To keep his paws pristine. ​ A Very Large Heart: To hold all the support you're sending our way! ​How You Can Help Us Reach the Finish Line ​We are walking to raise vital funds and awareness for the autism community. If you’d like to sponsor Fluffy (and me, his loyal friend), here is how: ​ Click the Link: Visit our fundraising page at [ my walk for autism ] . ​ ...

We aren’t just walking; we’re moving toward a more inclusive world. Scan the QR code below to contribute directly to our goal. Your support provides vital resources and advocacy for the autism community! My  Walk for Autism