Award-winning author with Croatian roots to run for autism awareness in Split

Isabelle Marinov (Photo: Supplied)

Award-winning author Isabelle Marinov is set to take on the Mazda10K race in Split, Croatia in February 2025 to raise funds for Fondation Autisme, a cause deeply connected to her own life and work.

Marinov, celebrated for her picture books and middle-grade novel Boy Underground, will be running in honour of her son, who is on the autism spectrum, as well as for countless other families affected by autism.

From Luxembourg, the run in Split is especially meaningful for Marinov, as it connects to her Croatian heritage.

“My late grandparents were both born in Primošten. The family name is Marinov-Opara (The Opara part was to distinguish them from the other Marinov family that lived in the village). They had 5 sons. My father was born here in Luxembourg,” she tells us. 

“We still have lots of family in Croatia with whom I am in touch. I am still very much connected to Croatia – I spent all my childhood summers there (we still had the family house at the time) until the war – and now, I visit every summer with my sons who love the place as well.”

Primošten is only around 60km from Split

Marinov’s Boy Underground, published by Sweet Cherry Publishing, follows Hugo, a brave young boy with autism, on an imaginative and heartfelt adventure.

Drawing from her own experiences as a parent, Marinov created Hugo to help shed light on the strength, resilience and beauty of neurodiverse children and the challenges they face.

Since its release, Boy Underground has received global acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of autism, encouraging many conversations about inclusivity and understanding.

Through her participation in the Mazda10K, Marinov hopes to raise significant funds for Fondation Autisme, saying: “I am so excited to run the Mazda10K in Split, Croatia, the location of Boy Underground’s upcoming sequel. I’m raising funds for a charity dedicated to supporting individuals with autism and their families. Fondation Autisme has been a tremendous help over the past 10 years, providing support and resources that have been invaluable in navigating family life with my autistic son.”

Split

Sweet Cherry Publishing, known for championing inclusive and diverse storytelling, is thrilled to support Marinov’s mission.

“Isabelle’s journey is emblematic of the values we hold at Sweet Cherry,” said Sanjee de Silva, Publisher at Sweet Cherry. “We’re proud to stand behind her as she runs for such an important cause.”

Isabelle Marinov (Photo: Supplied)

How to Support

Donations to support Marinov’s Mazda10K run and Fondation Autisme can be made through her official fundraising page here. 

For more details on Isabelle Marinov’s work and Sweet Cherry Publishing’s commitment to inclusive children’s literature, you can visit www.sweetcherrypublishing.com.