I am running the April 2026 London TCS Marathon to raise funds for the Organization for Autism Research in memory of my brother Tim and in honor of my two nephews with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

This cause is of great importance to me and my family, and I have seen firsthand the lengths to which parents with ASD children will go to give their children a normal life. Some examples of actions my siblings and parents have taken include:

• Starting to plan and save--as early as elementary school--to help the child with housing so that they can live a normal life on their own.
• Sending the child out-of-state for toilet training when the child was in grade school
• Taking the child to other countries for stem cell treatments
• Fecal microbiota "transplants" to reduce autism symptoms
• Expensive supplements and food plans with varying levels of success

And as our family tragically learned, suicide rates are astronomically higher for children and adults on the autism spectrum. These extraordinary measures and reasons are why autism research is so critical and why I am running to raise funds for the Organization for Autism Research!

Additionally, as a scientist and researcher, I know the importance of charity and foundation funding for propelling research pursuits that will best support the individuals for whom the charity organization exists. I am grateful that the Organization of Autism Research has committed to standing up for science-based decision making in autism and funding evidence-based research with scientific merit, rather than political implications (below, you can find a screenshot of the "Future of Autism Research" email sent out by the OAR Executive Director this past April).

Donations are accepted through May 10, 2026 and 100% of your donation will go the Organization for Autism Research!


Below is some information about Autism and OAR provided by the organization:

WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 31 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.