A FOUR-year-old girl whose little brother has autism and is non-verbal is carrying out a sponsored silence to raise cash to help a Southend charity open its new home. 

Nathan Woods, two, is partially sighted as well as being non-verbal and having autism but his family have received vital help from support group Little Heroes. 

Little Heroes, based in London Road, is hoping to move into a new hub at the Garons Community Centre, in Garon Park, to continue is working helping families of children who are diagnosed with or going through a diagnosis of autism. 

 

Echo: Raising funds - the Woods family.Raising funds - the Woods family. (Image: Sinead Woods)

 

 

However, the charity needs to raise £30,000 to overhaul the space and Nathan’s sister, Ciara, is hoping to help by taking on a sponsored silence at the end of the month. 

Little Heroes has already raised £20,000 of its target and within 24 hours of launching a fundraiser, Ciara has raised £830. 

Mum, Sinead, says Little Heroes has been their “saving grace”.

Sinead, 36, of Northfields Crescent, Great Wakering, said: “Without them, I don’t think I’d be sane, to be honest. 

“Nathan and I go as often as we can, about once a week. They’ve helped me, told me who to speak to, and given me advice when I’ve been let down by other services.

“They’ve just moved to a bigger place and need to renovate the whole thing.

“I’ve never done anything for charity, but I feel so passionate about this that we really want to say ‘thank you’.”Sinead says her “lovely” daughter knows “exactly what to do” when Nathan experiences a meltdown.

 

Echo: Loving siblings - Ciara and Nathan.Loving siblings - Ciara and Nathan. (Image: Sinead Woods)

She added: “Ciara is such a lovely little girl. She desperately wants that brother and sister bond that other siblings have.

“She’s amazing at supporting kids at school with additional needs. It’s like a superpower.

“It absolutely melts my heart.”

Ciara plans to hold a sponsored silent walk along Great Wakering High Street at the end of the month, wearing a sandwich board and covering her mouth with tape.

The challenge will see her trying to communicate with business owners without speaking, to highlight the difficulties her brother faces.

Ciara said: “I want to help because Nathan can’t talk. It makes me sad. I really want to be a good big sister to him.”

View the GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ciaras-sponsored-silence