Local runner raises more than £1,300 for Autism Hampshire

2nd February 2026

What began as a personal fundraising challenge for the Portsmouth Coast Marathon quickly became a powerful reminder of how many families are affected by autism.

Mark Allibone, 42, completed the marathon in December in 3 hours and 32 minutes, raising £1,365 for Autism Hampshire - almost three times his original £500 target.

“You don’t know how many people you know until you do something like this,” he said. “It just touches people, doesn’t it. I may be at a different stage but I know exactly why you are doing this and how it changes your life. People were just so kind giving donations.”

Mark took on the challenge for his daughter, Imogen, who is currently awaiting assessment for autism. He said the experience prompted him to learn more about autism and seek out local support.

“She’s brilliant but she has her struggles,” he said. “I had to do quite a lot of learning.”

Mark, who was also diagnosed with ADHD later in life, said one of the hardest lessons was learning that not everything can be ‘fixed’.

“I’m a fixer and that works with a lot of things, but not with autistic people.” he said. “That was the hardest thing to learn.”

He added that clear, literal communication has been essential in supporting his daughter.

“She doesn’t understand non-literal language,” he said. “I have had to learn to speak to her in a clear way. It is communicating with people in a way they understand.”

Mark said exceeding his fundraising target showed just how strongly people connected with the cause.

“I just raised more than I would have dreamed of,” he said.

The marathon had been a long-held ambition for Mark, who joined a running club last year before signing up for the Portsmouth Coast Marathon in October.

“The marathon was something that has always been on my mind,” he said. “At 23 miles I started to feel quite tired.

“It was so good and I’m so pleased I did it.”

Mark’s fundraising page remains open and can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-allibone-1.