THE Archdeacon of Sudbury, the Ven. Dr David Jenkins (below, centre), will be clocking up the miles next year. He intends to enter ten ten-kilometre races in his home diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, as well as in Norwich and Essex, to raise awareness and funds for families with an autistic child.

Dr Jenkins's 11-year-old son has the condition: "My lovely son Ben is autistic, and a real gift from God, although an occasionally challenging one." He says that he and his family have been very grateful for support from Autism Suffolk, and he is committed to repaying some of their kindness.

Autism and Asperger syndrome are part of a range of related developmental disorders known as autistic-spectrum disorders. They begin in childhood and last throughout adult life. "I am very keen to raise the profile for those who have autistic children, and the joys and sorrows this brings," Dr Jenkins says. "If I can additionally raise thousands of pounds to help other families by taking part in racing through 2014 - and running is a real love of mine - then I will get a lot of pleasure from this, too."

He is being supported by the diocese. The diocesan secretary, Nicholas Edgell, says that it has chosen Autism Suffolk as the cause for which staff will raise funds in the diocesan offices during 2014, and several of them will run with Dr Jenkins.