We are Corina, Michael, and Natalie. Together we are Team Baby Bat. We have decided to join the Organization for Autism Research’s fundraising initiative “Run for Autism” because we believe in their mission to fund research and resources that help people with autism and their families.
Team Baby Bat originated from when Natalie was pregnant with her daughter, Amaranta Luna. Her dear friend, and running mate, Corina, decided to name the little girl “Baby Bat”.
Amaranta was a beautiful (and big) baby, with many peculiar traits and quirks that her parents (Natalie and Kevin) didn't quite understand. As Amaranta grew bigger, it was obvious that she was not a typical kid, lucky for the bat, her parents are not typical either! They did everything they could to help her regulate and navigate life in the busy city of Boston. But their efforts alone were not enough. Amaranta needed more help. After many appointments and talks with her doctors, teachers, friends, and family, Amaranta was diagnosed autistic in May of 2024.
Baby Bat has an amazing team of people who love her and give her the support she needs to be the most amazing little girl she can be. Starting from her parents, Natalie and Kevin; her abuelos, Luis and Luisa; her grandparents, Martha, Mark, and Laurie; her tios, Manuel and Molly; her uncles and aunts, Katie and Troy, Christine and JT, Anthony and Julia; her godfather Paul; her madrina, Flor; her speech therapist, Miss Lauren; her occupational therapist, Miss Janelle; her music therapist, Mr. Jeff; her aquatic therapist, Coach Q; her pediatrician, Doctora María; her neurologist, Dr. Romeo; and of course, her tio Michael and her tia Corina, who are joining her mom in the Chicago Marathon 2025.
Our team goal is to raise $6,000 to support the 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. $50,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.
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