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A 10-year-old boy with dyslexia is set to run 5km this summer to raise money for the charity that helped him learn how to read.
CJ Ballantyne – who has dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and a vision processing condition called Irlens – wants to raise funds for 'Words & Numbers Matter'.
The local charity is dedicated to supporting young people and adults to improve their literacy and/or numeracy skills.
CJ said he admires the staff at Words & Numbers and considers them his "heroes".
He wants to give back to the service that has built his confidence and taught him new skills, while also raising awareness of dyslexia and showing others who struggle with reading and writing that they are not alone.
Pictured: CJ Ballantyne – who has dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and a vision processing condition called Irlens – wants to raise funds for local charity 'Words & Numbers Matter'.
CJ expressed his frustration about the lack of understanding about dyslexia in Jersey and the lack of a pathway for a formal diagnosis.
"I’m 10 years old I am diagnosed with autism ADHD and Irlens but the main issue I struggle with is dyslexia," he said.
"Jersey typically does not diagnose this which makes me sad. If they did then maybe I wouldn't feel like my struggle with reading and writing was my fault.
"I would have a reason behind this, and yes another battle to fight. I'm good at fighting battles I'm a brown belt in karate so that helps me to keep fighting every day."
CJ explained that he wanted to share his story and build awareness around dyslexia because of how it makes him feel when all of his friends seem to find it easy to read and write.
"This makes me feel like I've failed and as reading and writing is everywhere, like football cards and PlayStation games," he explained.
"Even going to the shop makes life so much harder, I don't understand it.
"I get all confused and have to ask questions then feel stupid and sometimes people sigh and I don't like this I get upset when people sigh or roll their eyes.
"When I failed at something so big, it makes me so scared I'm going to fail again.
"So now everything new I do, it feels like so much pressure and I'm scared to try it, just in case I fail again."
The 10-year-old explained that his condition also makes him "very forgetful" he makes him "very frustrated".
CJ said: "I really want to remember everything but no matter how hard I try I still forget and lose things all the time.
"I think my mum has this because the amount of times we go to the car and she's left the car key on the key hook at home!
"This makes me feel like it's not just me and I always remind her when I forget things like this so that I never get told off for losing things."
Pictured: CJ said he admires the staff at Words & Numbers and considers them his "heroes".
CJ admitted that when he was younger, he worried that he might never be able to read.
After hearing about a friend from karate who had tutoring, CJ asked his mum if he might be able to have some extra lessons too.
"My mum found Words & Numbers who are a charity," he explained.
"I went and met them they were kind listened and asked questions and said that my brain tries to memorise words to compensate for what dyslexia might be, preventing me from reading so we used books with lots of repetition and this built my confidence.
"They said that because I was so determined to read and write they would be able help and that I will be able to read if I work hard."
CJ said that the charity had provided "some hope" that he might be able to go to university one day.
He said: "On the car ride home after the first session, I said to my mum that when I get a job, I'm going to give money back to Words & Numbers.
"She nearly cried for some reason, but said to me if I wanted I can do something like a run and raise money. 'Yes!', I said 'I love running I can run around the island'.
"Mum said that was too far and I should just do 5km. But I would have run all day if it means helping Words & Numbers out, they are my hero."
CJ will be joined on his run by his mum and older bother.
"My mum said because I'm only 10 she's going to run with me," he explained. "I'm not too sure on this idea, but she says she's gonna train so she can run the whole way.
"My mum gets pain in her body from something called arthritis so it's a big thing for her. But she said because I'm working hard to read and write, she wants to show me she can work hard and get fit and healthy too.
"She says she's so proud of me but I'm proud of her too."
The 10-year-old said he was really pleased with the support so far.
"It's so nice that people care and know this is important to me," he said.
"Please sponsor me if you can, but if you can't sponsor me, then please share my story to reach all those people who struggle too, so they know they are not alone and that it's never too late to learn you just have to find the way your brain learns."
CJ added: "I also want to say if you see people struggling to read or write please don't hurry them or sigh or make them feel stupid as they already feel like that, please just help them."
CJ's run will take place on Friday 30 August, starting from La Frégate.
You can sponsor him HERE.
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