Hi,

First of all thank you so much to taking the time to read this.

Anthony Ward is a young lad that loves racing karts. Back in 2024 Anthony decided to stop racing due to mental health reasons plus other reasons we feel are too personal to share with everyone. Anthony has always had a love for racing and couldn't wait to start when he was 11. His life pre racing and through racing has been turbulent to say the least, schools didn't want to help him, even specialist schools were not interested in him and he was just a number that brough revenue in.

Anthony has a lot of talent, but just seems not to be able to release this and show others. I set up a group on face book called Autism In Motorsports (AIM) to encourage others to help those who are less fortunate and are low income families. Our dream was to build a life skills centre to help children who were neurodiverse to learn life skills one day a week, unfortunately this dream didn't come.

Anthony is an Ambassador to AIM and loves helping others, he encourages others, gets great satisfaction from teaching young children how to race, but over the last year there has been a hole that has grown but never filled. This hole was to be back on the track racing. We are a family that just cannot afford the full costs and being a proud person, I am having to ask for help from others.

AIM was formed by my friend and I back in 2020, we wanted to raise money and help others, as time went on, last year I decided I had to retire from AIM to work more hours due to cost of living. AIM faded away and all the hard work myself, Anthony and others did faded too. The group is still active but after helping many others, I am the one asking for help.

Anthony had a real low time back in June 2024, he wanted to end his life, this took a real toll on me as being the dad and main earner, I had to be the strong one for my family. I still have flash backs, but I work long hours to make ends meet and keep my family safe, warm and fed. This isn't about me, but about putting a smile back on Anthony's face, when he is racing he is interacting with others, he helping others and encouraging others and making friends.

Anthony lost his grandad and a close uncle, he decided at the time to race with their names on the kart we did have. In June 2024, we sold everything and karting came to an end at the wish of Anthony. In 2025, we found out my mum is on palliative care, this also hit Anthony hard as it did with us all. My time is now working and helping my parents more, this just means I am not earning as much.

Anthony wants to be a mechanic, but due to the lack of the school, this has become hard to make his dream come true, apprenticeship would be great, but finding an employer who will take him under their wing, treat him well and understand his needs along with one to one teaching. Unfortunately, Anthony was refused his driving licence which also had a huge effect on his mental health, but this we are working on.

AS I have said, I have had to swallow my pride and do this Gofund me page as I just cannot afford to get Anthony back on track before February 7th which will be the second race and I have broken one promise that I would get him out racing in his own kart on the first race Which was 3rd Jan.

I know times are hard for everyone, and any help will be some help, as we all hear, Every little helps regardless. Even if we reach out target, we still have other items to buy like extra engines, tyres parts and more. My priority is the basics and Anthony being where he is really happy. In one photo, you will see the back of a helmet that was painted without us knowing, this was from the kind donations of close friends. My wife was in on it, but we were not. This is what AIM was about, but look carefully, Anthony took a saying made famous by his Racing Hero, Sir Lewis Hamilton - the word "Still I Rise" these words stood strong with Anthony until things went wrong, the helmet no longer fits and those words will not be with him while racing. These helmets cost around £1500 for the helmet and the painting. Few words can have a strong meaning and give courage and strength.

Thank you for taking valuable time reading this and I apologise if the gramma isn't great and sorry for the long waffle, I just feel that if people know the story they understand better.

All the Best, Paul & Anthony Ward.