ENTHUSIASTIC children from the likes of Baildon, Otley, Skipton and Keighley took on a sponsored flying themed challenge last week in their Rhythm Time classes as part of a Children's Activities Week national campaign to improve support for children with autism.

The children from the Wharfedale, Craven and Keighley Rhythm Time branch raised an amazing £2,000 for Caudwell Children and looked fantastic in their flying costumes.

The 300 children who attend Rhythm Time’s fun, developmental music classes joined an estimated 120,000 other children across the country in completing the challenge.

It was part of the national campaign to raise awareness and money to provide support for autistic children through the charity, Caudwell Children.

Autism directly affects over 2.5 million people in the UK every day and it is proven that early detection and intervention is the most effective way of managing behaviour relating to autism.

But across the UK, families can regularly wait years to receive an autism assessment for their child and, once diagnosed, often have to fight for any kind of support.

The money raised from the sponsored challenge will fund assessments and practical support for autistic children at the new Caudwell International Children’s Centre, the UK’s first independent purpose-built centre dedicated to autism.

Activity leader at the Wharfedale, Craven and Keighley branch, Laura Justice said: “We are so proud to be a part of Children’s Activities Week.

“All of the children have had lots of fun participating in our flying themed challenges this month.

“At Rhythm Time we are passionate about giving children the best start in life through music and by taking part in Children’s Activities Week, we are taking that beyond our classes and helping other children as well.”