For the past 18 years we have been raising money for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) by running the Chicago Marathon and participating in OAR's Run for Autism Program, a cause near and dear to our hearts.

As many of you know, our son Ian, is a very special 27 year old. Twenty five years ago we would have been ecstatic for Ian to look at us when we said his name or to simply hear him say "I love you." When he was about 2 years old, we suspected something was not right, and he was diagnosed with autism. Thanks to early intervention with intense speech and occupational therapy, Ian has made remarkable progress. A few years ago he graduated from a community college program focused on enhancing career skills for individuals like Ian. During the COVID outbreak in March 2020, there was Ian working on the front lines at Jewel where he has been for over 8 years and not missing day. What a trooper! However, he will always have autism and living in a non-autistic world will continually present great challenges for him.

We know that hope for Ian and for all individuals with autism lies in the research which is critical in finding ways to improve their lives. For the 18th consecutive year, we are participating in the OAR Run for Autism to raise money for grants to fund important research in which 1 in 54 kids are diagnosed with Autism. Along with 100 other runners, we are targeting to raise over $100,000 for autism research. Our goal is to raise over $1,000.

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page. Donating through this site is simple, fast, and secure. This is the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts. Your donation is also tax deductible! Many thanks for your support and please forward to anyone you think might want to donate too!

Whether or not you are able to make a donation, our family thanks you for all the support you have given Ian through the years. Below is a little more information how OAR uses donations. Thank you!

WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 54 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.