Romsey Mill staff take on London Marathon

Two members of Romsey Mill's staff team are taking part in this year's TCS London Marathon, hoping to meet personal challenges and raise funds for Aspire, where Romsey Mill is alongside autistic children and young people.

Nasser (Naz) Ameen works in the Romsey Mill's Fundraising Team and Kathy Farrell is an Aspire Youth Development worker. 

Naz says:

"Running the London Marathon this year feels profoundly personal to me. It is not only a test of endurance, but also a powerful reminder of why Romsey Mill’s work matters so much. I see every day how important our services are, especially at a time when so many families are facing rising costs and increasing pressure.

Last year, I pushed myself through the Cambridge Half Marathon while fasting during Ramadan, battling thirst, exhaustion, cramps, and some truly terrible footwear. Even on my hardest day, my experience was nothing compared to the challenges faced by the amazing young people and families we support. The autistic children who rely on our autism affirming Aspire groups describe our programme as the only place where they feel safe and supported.

Their resilience is what inspires me. It is the reason I am taking on 26.2 miles to help Romsey Mill continue offering free, life changing support to those who need it most.

“Running the London Marathon this year feels profoundly personal to me. It is not only a test of endurance but also a reminder of why Romsey Mill’s work matters so much. As a parent of a child with autism; I see every day how vital our services are, especially now, as families face rising costs and increasing pressure.”

If you are able to, I would be so grateful if you could sponsor me through my JustGiving page. Your support genuinely makes a real difference.

Please also feel free to share my page with friends, colleagues, or anyone who may want to support Romsey Mill’s work. If you know of any businesses or organisations that might be open to match funding or making a donation, this would be incredibly appreciated and would help us make an even bigger impact."

To support Naz, you can donate on his Just Giving Fundraising page.

Kathy says:

"I joined Romsey Mill Aspire in July of 2025 after finishing my Master’s in Developmental Psychology in the Netherlands.

Although I understood the need for, and importance of, specialist support for young people with autism, nothing could have prepared me for the impact that Romsey Mill Aspire makes on the autistic young people’s lives that we work with.

This is why I am so pleased to be able to use running the London Marathon 2026 to be able to raise funds for Romsey Mill.

The youth groups that Aspire provides for our young people are the ‘bread and butter’ of our service, and seeing friendships develop and flourish is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job. For so many of the young people, the youth clubs are a space where they feel accepted by others who are like them and feel supported by our staff.

The one-to-one sessions we provide are often invaluable to many children who struggle to engage in school and who may be struggling with their mental health, offering them a space to develop tools to develop their mental wellbeing, practical life skills, and alternative education. 

Finally, the service we provide to families when engaging with other services is invaluable in ensuring they have a voice to get the best care for their children, who so often go unnoticed.

The Aspire service has been described by parents a safe space for their children, and one of the

Although my place at the London Marathon 2026 was not acquired through a charity entry, but a personal entry, it makes it even more special to use it to raise money for a service that I can see every day makes such a huge difference to the lives of so many.

If you could spare any donation to contribute to my fundraiser it would be so greatly appreciated and would help our work continue to touch the lives of so many."

To support Kathy, you can donate via her Just Giving Fundraising page *

(* Kathy set up her page for the Cambridge Half Marathon - but you can donate to support her in the London Marathon.)