Running helps bring autistic boy to 'calmer level'

The father of a 10-year-old boy who is autistic has praised the warm welcome his son has received from a junior running club.

Stuart Raffle realised early on that encouraging Ralphy to get into the fresh air and running "brings him to a calmer level.. clears his mind".

He has since joined the Harwich Runners junior club in Essex where the coaches "completely understand he's got autism" and give him extra time and support.

Mr Raffle, who is also a keen runner, plans to run the London Marathon to raise funds for the National Autistic Society.

"We've never actually used the National Autistic Society, because we're lucky enough," he said.

"But there's lots of families and children that are not lucky enough and need the help and support the society provide for them... so if I can run a few miles to raise a bit of money, then great."

Ralphy received an autism diagnosis when he was three and a half years old.

His dad said: "I've run myself for 10 years and we just took him out to get him out and give him fresh air and he really took to it and enjoyed it.

"He loves running, he loves being out of doors, he runs three or four times a week, especially during the summer months."

While Ralphy "can't tell us that directly himself", his father can see "the wellbeing of him - how running helps and calms him".

Stephen Manley, one of the junior running coaches, said the club encouraged "people with all sorts of abilities" to join in.

"We've got about 50 members and we've got at least eight who've got additional needs," he said.

He said he had noticed a growth in confidence in Ralphy since he joined.

"He's coming on leaps and bounds in the year and a half since he started coming down here; we've noticed a real improvement in him," Mr Manley said.

Mr Raffle said another positive about the club was "all the kids encourage Ralphy, they take this extra bit of care with him".

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