Growing up in New Jersey, I crossed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge countless times, dreaming of what it would be like to start the New York City Marathon there. After finishing my first half marathon in February, I entered the lottery, and thanks to a late entry in August, my dream is finally coming true. I'm honored to run as part of the Run for Autism team, and with less than 10 weeks to train, I'm determined to meet my $3,500 fundraising goal.

But this isn't just about me. Autism has touched my life in a very personal way, which makes the marathon as well as this cause deeply meaningful to me. 1 in 31 children in the US is diagnosed with autism. By running with the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), I'm helping fund practical resources and applied research that make a difference for individuals with autism and their families today.

Here's how your support can have an impact:

$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.

Training for a marthon is tough, but knowing that each step creates opportunities for others make it all worth it. Thank you for helping me make my marathon run about something bigger. Together, we can cross the finish line for autism research and awareness.