Peter Mark salons to raise money for Autism NI

Taking place from October 23 – 26 in Peter Mark salons across Northern Ireland, this year the Peter Mark team will be raising vital funds for Autism NI.

Now in its tenth year, to date the annual Petermarkathon has raised over £55,000 for charities across Northern Ireland.

Autism NI is Northern Ireland’s leading autism charity which provides life changing services for over 30,000 autistic individuals and their families. Established in 1990 by a group of parents, its mission is to remove barriers and create a more equal society for those with autism in Northern Ireland. The key services offered by the charity include a helpline, family support, early intervention services, training and research.

Covid-19 has had a huge impact on charities like Autism NI as avenues for fundraising have significantly reduced. It has also been a challenging time for individuals with autism, navigating a changed world as a result of the pandemic.

Each Peter Mark salon across Northern Ireland has been tasked to come up with its own individual and unique way to raise money for Autism NI while also adhering to Covid-19 regulations. Visitors to their local salon can expect raffles, fancy dress, crazy hairstyles and many other fun-filled initiatives throughout the weekend in October.

Peter O’Rourke, CEO, Peter Mark said: “We are delighted to launch this year’s Petermarkathon across our salons nationwide. Despite recent challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Petermarkathon is something that every member of the Peter Mark team looks forward to and one that we were keen to make happen. Now more than ever it’s important that charities like Autism NI are supported and we’re delighted to partner with them this year. They are an absolute lifeline to autistic individuals and their families in Northern Ireland.”

Kerry Boyd, CEO, Autism NI added: “Autism NI exists to support autistic people and their families and campaigns to raise awareness of autism within the wider society. We want to help build an inclusive society for all autistic people in Northern Ireland, where barriers are removed and access to rights and opportunities are protected and enforced.

“We believe every autistic person should be given the correct tools and support in life to give them opportunities and fulfilment. Autism NI provides a range of services to support autistic people including an early intervention service, family support service, group support, youth clubs and training courses. We also lobby the NI Executive to ensure autistic people in Northern Ireland are receiving the autism services they need.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on our charity with fundraising events being cancelled and a high demand for our services. With routines being disrupted and new rules being introduced, the autism community has been incredibly anxious, and our services have been needed more than ever. The support from Peter Mark will mean that we can reach out to more families and support them during these uncertain times.”

To find the location of your nearest Peter Mark salon, see www.petermark.com

For more information about Autism NI, see www.autismni.org

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