Neil Balfour

Why I’m doing this ride

I’m taking on the Ambitious About Autism ride because I am autistic — and discovering that has been life-changing.

For much of my life, things felt harder than they appeared to be for others. There were moments where everything felt close to falling apart, yet somehow I always found a way to keep going. Learning that I am autistic didn’t just answer questions — it turned my world upside down in the best possible way.

I feel like I’m heading in a new direction, with a deeper understanding of who I am and how I move through the world. In many ways, I feel like a different person. Things that once felt confusing now make sense, and it’s as though colour has flooded back into my life — bringing clarity, self-compassion, and a renewed sense of possibility.

I’m riding because I want children to have that understanding far earlier than I did. Every child deserves to know themselves — but autistic children, in particular, can face misunderstanding, overwhelm, and isolation. If a child can grow up with self-knowledge, acceptance, and support at seven instead of thirty-seven, the difference could be extraordinary.

I’m also doing this to challenge stigma. Autism is too often framed through limitation, but autistic people are ambitious, creative, resilient, and capable of extraordinary things. We can build meaningful lives, contribute in powerful ways, and take on challenges the world might not expect from us.

This ride will push me well beyond my comfort zone. I’ll be attempting distances I’ve never ridden before, and I fully expect moments of doubt, struggle, and possibly failure. But that feels fitting — because growth rarely happens inside certainty. What matters is showing up and giving everything I have.

I’m dedicating this ride to my niece Maisie, whose autism is a beautiful part of who she is; to her sister Rose, who has adapted, grown, and navigated her own journey alongside that experience with quiet strength; and to my son Nova, who is only one year old but already shows many of the traits I recognise in myself.

My hope is that they grow up in a world where understanding comes sooner, support is easier to find, and difference is seen not as something to hide — but something to honour.