Families flock to Tashelle’s fun day (From Swindon Advertiser)

Families flock to Tashelle’s fun day

7:37pm Monday 29th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

FAMILIES flocked to Barbury Castle to raise money for a special little girl.

Five-year-old Tashelle Williams is at the lower end of the autism spectrum meaning she barely speaks and is at the same level of development as her 18-month-old brother Tyreece.

Mum Carlenne, 28, organised the weekend event with the help of family and friends to raise money for a much-needed activity room at their Dulverton Avenue home in Park North, where autism specialists can work on Tashelle’s development.

Carlenne said: “Because of her autism Tashelle can get easily distracted so by kitting out a room to meet her needs, hopefully we’ll see some improvement.

“I don’t want to change her, she is the way she is and that is what makes her Tashelle, I would just love to hear her say ‘I love you’, just once.”

Eventually Carlenne hopes to have enough money to fly her daughter to America where she will receive specialist treatment through the Son-Rise autism development programme. The event at the weekend saw hundreds descend on the Barbury Castle cafe for face painting, games, entertainment and crafts.

Tashelle’s cousin Jazmine Fearon, 11, said she hoped Tashelle’s dream trip would soon be a reality.

“She’s a very special girl,” said Jazmine, from King Henry Drive in Grange Park, West Swindon.

“I’ve been selling sweets to raise money.

“We all just want to be able to help her so she can have a normal life.”

The takings from the event have not yet been counted but Carlenne hopes the money will go some way towards funding Tashelle’s therapy room.

“It would make all the difference to her life,” said Carlenne.

“She does communicate a bit through sign and there are a few words she can say but whatever happens I want to at least have tried to bring her closer to our world.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)