A TRURO mother has been honoured by a national charity for supporting people with autism for a decade.
Tracey Mears set up the west Cornwall branch of the National Autistic Society (NAS) ten years ago, frustrated at the lack of support available to her and her son Ryan, who has autism himself and is now 18.
With the help of other volunteers she has developed a network of more than 350 local members who provide information, advice and mutual support.
The NAS recognised her achievement as part of Volunteers Week last week, an annual campaign which celebrates the contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.
"When my son Ryan was diagnosed at the age of 2 I didn't really know where to turn for advice and felt isolated," she said.
"Nobody in Cornwall seemed to know about autism, or even where to find out any information.
"I didn't want other parents to go through that; I want to ensure that parents, siblings, carers and individuals affected by autism know that they're not alone – that there are more than two million people in the UK facing similar challenges.
"Our support groups provide a place where parents can get together, unburden themselves and learn from one another. That's what myself and the other amazing volunteers at the branch are here to do and that's what we'll keep doing."
Jamie Mitchell, branches manager at the NAS, said: "Tracey is truly inspirational and I hope people across Cornwall will join me in thanking her and all the other volunteers at the west Cornwall branch for their tireless efforts."
