A remarkable collaboration between an award-winning artist and a young man with Aspergers Syndrome has led to the publication of an inspiring new book.
Steven Dodd, who lives in Crownhill, was diagnosed with Aspergers at the age of 24 and with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder shortly after.
Despite this, Steven’s determination has seen him win medals at the World Games, raise thousands of pounds for charity and visit Kosova on several occasions to help rebuild the war damaged homes of widows.
He is driven by a passion to achieve and help others to do the same.
A chance meeting at the beginning of 2016 provided Steven with the opportunity to fulfil this ambition.
While attending a fund-raising event for a cancer charity Steven met Lester Jones, who is the events organiser for Plymouth and Cornwall Cancer Fund.
Lester, an award-winning artist, designer and musician, draws his inspiration from his volunteer work supporting cancer patients and encouraging people of all ages to ‘give it a go.’
Steven’s enthusiasm and determination impressed Lester and the pair worked on a host of fund raising events in the months that followed.
Last year Steven asked Lester if he could write his life story to inspire others to achieve.
Lester, who lives in Lipson, said:
“I told Steven that I didn’t think I was skilled enough to write a biography, but in the past I had worked as a designer with Lego creating different characters.
“Steven is a fan of superheroes and we decided that his story could be told through an illustrated children’s book featuring superheroes.”
Lester then spent nearly a year writing the story and creating illustrations of more than 20 animal characters – many of them based on Steven’s family and friends.
Owls are Steven’s favourite animals, so not surprisingly the main character is called SuperOwl. He is the hero of the new 100-page book written and illustrated by Lester called ‘SuperOwl – Being Different Makes You Super.’
“…with support from their friends and family they can achieve great things.”
Lester said:
“Being different makes you super is a slogan to help and encourage children and young people with Aspergers Syndrome, autism or any form of disability to enjoy their lives and show that with support from their friends and family they can achieve great things.”
The book was launched in May and is available online at Amazon and Kindle and also at Waterstones and other major book stores. It has a cover price of £6.99.
Steven and Lester will be doing a book signing at Waterstones in Plymouth on June 2 and also visiting schools and local libraries to spread the positive message in the book.
When he is not promoting the book Steven is busy training for the World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi in March next year. Having previously won silver medals in kayaking, Steven has now been selected to join Team GB as a powerlifter.
Steven said:
“I could not continue with kayaking because my coach sadly died of cancer. It was a huge shock for me, but for the last two years I have been training as a powerlifter. I am very proud of my achievements and would love to come home with another medal.”
With Steven’s determination and commitment that is certainly a strong possibility!
