Harleston parents Gianna and Peter Abigail set to skydive to raise funds and awareness for Autism Anglia

A Harleston mum and dad are set to skydive from 13,000 feet to raise awareness of autism and funds for a charity which has supported their family.

Gianna and Peter Abigail, parents of three autistic children, are joining forces with six other parents to take a leap of faith.

On Saturday, the group will skydive from 13,000 feet at Beccles Airfield in aid of Autism Anglia, which supports autistic adults, children and their families.

The Abigails’ children – four-year-old twins Alishia and Amelia and their brother Liam, six, who has high support needs and requires round-the-clock care – have inspired the couple’s efforts.

After years of battling for appropriate support in healthcare, education and social services, Gianna and Peter are turning their struggles into action.

“We’ve spent years fighting for our children to access the support they need,” said Gianna.

“It’s been exhausting – dealing with delays in diagnosis, school challenges and navigating a complex and often unresponsive system. What’s kept us going is the support of our friends and family, and the strength we’ve found in our community of fellow SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) parents.”

Peter said “We want to shine a light on the everyday challenges so many SEND families face – things people often take for granted. Just going shopping, taking a walk, or planning a simple day out can be daunting without the right support or understanding.”

“Many of us have had to completely adapt our lives and homes to meet our children’s needs.

“We want people to pause before judging, to consider what kind of night that parent might have had, whether they’ve had any sleep, or how much they’ve sacrificed just to get through the day. Our goal is to build more empathy and make daily experiences just a little easier for autistic parents and their children.”

The eight skydivers – all parents to children with autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergent conditions – have already smashed their £4,000 fund-raising target for Autism Anglia.

“In many ways, we’re the lucky ones,” Gianna said. “We have each other, and we’ve learned how to challenge the system when we need to. But not every parent has that confidence or support network. That’s why we’re doing this – to raise awareness and show solidarity.”

Fliss Rook, director of income generation and marketing at Autism Anglia, said: “We are honoured to be supported by this inspiring group.

“Every day, we hear from families navigating the same challenges Gianna and Peter describe. As demand for our services continues to grow, the generosity of local communities is more important than ever. Fund-raisers like this make a real difference.”

To sponsor the team, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/giannaabigail1990