Born to run

As the sequel to CASA, 'Born to run' takes up, and concludes Stefan de Frères' epic story where CASA leaves off. It finds the amazing little kelpie heading off on another of her mysterious calls to assist someone in desperate need of her help in the inland port town of Echuca, on the border between Victoria and New South Wales. This part of the story brings to vivid life the struggles that both autistic people, and their family members face when the social system fails them dismally, leaving them in a downward spiral of hardship and despair, but given a decent opportunity to make better of their lot in life they are able to show that disability is not the end of life, but a beginning. Once again Ted and Dianne Markham find themselves in a unique position to assist others less fortunate than themselves, but at the same time they face difficulties that most everyday people would run away from when CASA is seriously injured after helping save the eleven year old severely affected autistic boy, Jason Clifford, from his own misguided error. Together a group of newly formed firm friends work toward the goal of seeing CASA in a position to compete in the Royal Melbourne Show sheepdog trial championships. The sometimes, hilarious antics and determined attitude employed by Ted Markham to get himself and CASA to such a supreme competitive level will have you laughing fit to burst and will find yourself not wishing to put this book down until you have read the final page. This book has a delightful mixture of hardship, pain and sorrow, exquisitely blended with down-to-earth country life, side splitting humor, deep seated love and respect, and the will to succeed against seemingly insurmountable odds.