Nothing prepares you for an autism diagnosis. Growing up in Kenya where it was never discussed at the time, I must say I was very naive and my first encounter was when our son Ian was diagnosed at the age of 4. Being my first child I had nothing to compare to and when developmental delays set in, it took time to recognize. Unfortunately I had to navigate this path with little to no help from the regular healthcare providers. I am forever indebted to this organization because without the strides they have made over the years in autism research I do not know where our son would be. Ian is in 7th grade following a normal school curriculum. He plays the tuba in band and is an avid swimmer who started swimming competitively at the age of 7. He will also be taking his first overnight band school trip with his peers this upcoming spring. Ian is living a typical teenagers life, occasionally pimple filled face, braces in his teeth and ooh yeah constantly eating anything within sight.Please help me support autism research by making a contribution to my fundraiser as I run my debut marathon.Feel free to share this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance Organization for Autism Research's great cause!


WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. By joining the RUN FOR AUTISM team, you’re supporting OAR’s mission to fund research and resources that help people with autism and their families today.


Here are some of the ways that OAR uses the funds raised by the RUN FOR AUTISM team:

$10 provides a Curriculum in a Box professional development set to general education teachers.
$25 provides 15 copies of A Guide to Safety to families and first responders.
$100 provides the Kit for Kids peer education resource to an entire elementary or middle school.
$150 provides 100 copies of a Life Journey through Autism guidebook sent to a community support group or military installation.
$1,000 provides a research grant for a graduate student studying autism.
$3,000 provides a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college.
$40,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.