TWO superfit charity champions tackled the Three Peaks Walk to raise money for a toddler suffering from autism.

Jo Sayers and Paul Nolan who work at the Mersey Forest offices at Risley Moss, raised about £500 for an appeal to send three-year-old Curtis Prior, of Rosemary Drive, Newton, to the Option Institute in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Curtis is the son of their work colleague, Nicola, and her husband, Russell.

The institute offers a week long one-to-one course which also teaches the parents of autistic children to carry on the therapy at home. Nicola said: "It is an intensive programme which teaches us how to play with Curtis. Autistic children are happy to play on their own.

"We are already planning to convert our garage into a play room for him which will have no distractions and very few toys.

"The idea is to use one specific item and encourage him to use his imagination and build up eye contact."

Nicola has already been on courses about the programme, but says that nothing compares to the treatment offered by the institute.

Curtis has the mentality of an 18-month-old child, though this has increased dramatically this year, but his counting ability is that of a child years above his age. Nicola and Russell are confident that he will eventually be cured.

Jo and Paul completed the trek well within the 24 hours allowed and even had time to wait for nearly two hours on the Scottish leg of the walk until it got light.

"Said Jo: "We did train with lots of walking and circuit training and we did the Yorkshire Three Peaks as a practice."

Nicola is looking for volunteers to help with Curtis's play therapy. Call her on 290922.

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