Q&A
What is Anna’s Fund?	Is it a registered charity?
Anna’s Fund has been created to raise the money to send Anna and her immediate family to the Son Rise programme in America. Its single aim is to raise £18,000 by July 2004 so that the Thomson family can make this trip.	Anna’s Fund is focussed on helping Anna for one particular purpose i.e. getting to Son Rise. It was therefore not felt appropriate to register the Fund as a charity. However the Fund is being administered by a named sponsorship team, through a dedicated bank account and all accounts are available for public inspection at anytime.	Anna’s Story Cycle Gallery Fund Q&A Sonrise Email us Links
Why do you think Anna is Autistic?	Do you attribute her condition to MMR?
The most likely explanation we have been given is that Autism is brought about be a combination of factors which may include as yet unidentified genes combined with environmental factors.	It may or may not be that certain injections tip the balance with children who are already predisposed to Autism via unidentified genes combined with environmental factors. However we have no definitive evidence to attribute her condition to the MMR and, most importantly, at this moment in time our aim is to look to our daughter’s future potential and concentrate on that, not looking back.
Is the Fund political or affiliated to other orgs?	What do you hope to achieve?
No. The Fund is about Anna and sending her to Son Rise. We are clear in our single aim and we think it is important that we are independent in our activities.	Since Anna’s diagnosis we have worked tirelessly to ensure our daughter develops and she has achieved a lot more than at times we could ever have hoped. However we know that in order to support her next significant development, we must take Anna to Son Rise.
Who will go to America?	What happens on the programme in America?
Our immediate family, that is Catriona, Calum, Katy (9) and Diarmid (2). A key principle of the Son Rise programme is that of family support and involvement. We will be actively participating in America and, critically, carrying on the therapy on our return	Dedicated experts will work with Anna for a week. She will be subjected to vast amounts of the 3 E’s (Energy, Excitement and Enthusiasm) and a programme will take place round her leadership over the week.
Are there any guarantees?	Do you have any messages for other parents?
It is not a case of guarantees, as with any child’s development, a parent can only do their very best and give them the best opportunities. We firmly believe Son Rise represents a critical opportunity for Anna and we are not prepared to let that pass. We have received tremendous support from our family and friends – none of whom expect a cast-iron outcome – like us, they just want to ensure Anna is given the opportunities she deserves.	Parents in similar situations will know the feeling – that they want to try anything that will help their son or daughter. Too much energy can be lost on campaigning and self examination – pure focus on what’s required for your child is needed – do whatever it takes.