Nick Hornby's Message to Fans

“This season, my fortieth as an Arsenal fan, is particularly special for me, because my club has chosen to support the charity closest to my heart – TreeHouse, a wonderful organisation for children with autism, located just a long Lehmann goal-kick away from the Emirates. My eldest son Danny attends TreeHouse’s school. It’s an amazing place that has changed the lives of all the kids lucky enough to attend it, and the lives of their families, too.

Arsenal are helping to raise £250,000 to build the sports facilities in the school’s new building, and we are all counting on Arsenal fans to help achieve this target. I know that you’ll help, because you will recognise, as the club has done, that this is a local cause of national importance, like Arsenal itself. Our long-term aim at TreeHouse is to ensure that all children with autism receive the same quality of education that my son is getting, which is why TreeHouse is also providing training facilities for teachers from other parts of the country. You wouldn’t believe how hard it can be to get appropriate education for a child whose needs, through no fault of his or her own, are greater than those of other children.

I’m sure I’ll be meeting a lot of you over the coming year, at the various events we have planned, and I’ll be able to thank you personally for the support I know you’ll give over the next few months. And if we do have the title wrapped up by February, I’ll buy every single one of you a drink.”

Find out more about why Nick Hornby supports TreeHouse.

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