Last Saturday I had the honor of attending the Boston Autism Speaks Walk Awards Dinner. It was an evening filled with inspiration and hope. While there I spent some time talking with Erica Giunta, head of the Massachusetts chapter of Autism Speaks. She was excited to tell me that Autism Speaks and the 13.1 Marathon Series had teamed up to make Autism Speaks the official charity of 13.1 Boston. For the September 16th event, Autism Speaks has pledged to field 400 half-marathoners. Each of those runners will commit to raising at least $500, meaning that we will raise at least $200,000 for research, advocacy and awareness programs.
This is where you come in.
I am NOT asking you to donate.
I am NOT asking you for money.
I want YOU!
YOU!!!
I want you to come cover 13.1 miles with me, where we will start at historical Suffolk Down race track and “dash through East Boston, Revere, and Winthrop, take in a stunning view of Downtown, and smell the salt air of the great Atlantic Ocean! The Boston 13.1 Marathon is (also) WALKER FRIENDLY. The course will remain open for 3 hours and 30 minutes (16 minute/mile pace).”
We are all touched by autism – whether it is ourselves, a family member, a neighbor or friend. If you haven’t been touched by autism, chances are you will – and soon.
I was inspired in listening to Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr Saturday night speak of a generation of children who are growing up with the understanding that kids like my little Brooke are “just one of the guys,”; of high school basketball and football players who were coming up to him simply to ask, “what can we do for so-and-so”; of college kids who were packing auditoriums to hear him speak on a Thursday night (I don’t know about your experience, but my Thursday nights in college were generally spent in the fraternity basement).
There is a generation of kids who are growing up with awareness, knowledge, compassion.
“Just one of the guys.”
It made me realize that there were in fact, many girls at Brooke’s school that really do just look at her as one of the girls. Yes, they know she’s different, but they just don’t care. They like her and she likes them. In fact, this morning at drop off, a girl that was in her class LAST year came up to her to give her a pink teddy bear for Valentine’s Day. Brooke hasn’t had a play day with this girl since last summer, yet this young lady thinks enough of Brooke that she felt compelled to give her a Valentine’s Day present.
This kind of awareness, this kind of comfort would, in part, not be possible were it not for the awareness efforts of organizations like Autism Speaks. In turn, organizations like Autism Speaks would not be successful were it not for the incredible efforts of you. Yes, YOU.
***
Whether you are an experienced marathoner, an avid walker or just a getting off of the couch, I would like to invite you to join the Team Up! with Autism Speaks Team. They make fund raising easy.
2012 Team Up! with Autism Speaks benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Race Entry (which means you don’t need to worry about the $65 – $100 entry fee)
- Team Up! with Autism Speaks Runners Tank or Long Sleeve, and an Autism Speaks dri-fit hat
- Pre-Race private team dinner for you and a guest, location TBA
- Customized fundraising page
- Team Up! Facebook Page
- Virtual Coaching by a certified running Coach Chris Fales
- Fundraising Tips and Opportunities
- Dedicated Autism Speaks staff
- Race Day Cheering Section at Mile TBA
- Race Day Team Up! Tent for pre and post race usage
- Team Handbook- In a PDF form and downloadable for reference at anytime.
I will add one more “benefit” if you are a Boston local. If you will be running your first half-marathon at 13.1 Boston, or just need some inspiration to get out there, I will organize weekly weekend long runs in the weeks leading up to the event. 7 months is a long ways away; plenty of time to get yourself ready for what is sure to be a fun-filled, inspiring day.
If you are an out-of-towner, what better excuse to get yourself up here for a visit? You’ll get to see New England in the early Fall, you’ll get a great run in, you’ll raise funds for a worthy cause, and best of all, you’ll get to have dinner with me the night before the race…okay, well, maybe that last one is not such a great excuse. Regardless, whether you decide to dine with me or not, I want you here.
You love to or want to run/walk.
You want to help.
On September 16th you can do both.
Join me by registering join the Team Up! with Autism Speaks Team—>>>HERE<<<—.
Experienced runner, novice runner, walker or couch potato – I. Want. You!
If you cannot join me but would still like to help, please consider donating here --->>> http://events.autismspeaks.org/boston13.1marathon/runluaurun
Run Luau Run 
I. will. seriously. consider. this. There’s dinner with you involved after all, right? I guess the dealbreaker for me would be …… will Jess be there?
Put me on the “maybe” list.
🙂
If that’s what it takes, then I will get her there!
LOL That’s what it would take. 🙂 (That and spousal support on my end, etc. etc.). Working on it……
I ran my last half-marathon in 2004. Just signed up in honor of my nephew Christopher. Thanks for the inspiration Luau!
Awesome Gail!
I am not a runner, but my husband is. We are SO there!!! It’ll be a great reason to travel to Mass!
Excellent! See you in September!
Potato/walker joining today – for both my boys. I better get going! Looking forward to dinner with you and would love to meet your lovely wife too.
I will make sure she is there…Lord knows she’ll be the main attraction! 🙂
Yay Angela! And Luau you are a quick study. 🙂
I’ve got 3 others signed up too!
[…] post is by Luau, who blogs at, ‘Run Luau […]
Looking to move to Boston this summer for grad school, so I’m totally interested! What is the deadline for signing up?
As long as there are spots left…I believe it’s first come first serve. I hope you’ll join us!
I’m in!
Yay!
And Autismville will bring some kicka** core strength to the race in September too!
I’m quite tempted. I’ll keep it in mind.
Luau: I read yours and Jess’s blog regularly. Although I’m now a Tennesseean, I’m a Bostonian at heart (grew up in Winchester). I’m going to run with you and for my gorgeous Shea! What a great idea!
That is awesome! I look forward to dining with you the night before to welcome you back to Boston!
I want to! I really, really do! If I can financially make it work, I will be there. (I follow your family’s story through your wife over at Diary of a Mom.) Ironically, I have declared 2012, “My Year On The Run” http://2012myyearontherun.wordpress.com/ and was planning to run a 1/2-marathon later this year. I would love to run one, though, while raising funds for such a worthy cause. My 7-yr-old son has moderate/severe autism, I would love to run this in honor of him.
I hope you can make it work!
I hope you can too, tiredmama!
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[…] also be exactly 24 weeks before the Boston 13.1 Half Marathon. I wrote about it a while back (I Want You) when Autism Speaks announced that it was teaming up with 13.1 to be the official charity of the […]
[…] also be exactly 24 weeks before the Boston 13.1 Half Marathon. I wrote about it a while back (I Want You) when Autism Speaks announced that it was teaming up with 13.1 to be the official charity of the […]
OK, I really can’t make this work. I’m bummed, but will run my first half-marathon on Sept 22 as a Team Up member in a race much closer to my home… http://2012myyearontherun/2012/05/03/team-up-with-autism-speaks/ Any suggestions from getting from a quarter-marathon at the end of June to a 1/2 in Sept.?
Hey Tired Mama,
Sorry to hear you won’t make it, BUT you’re doing one anyway, so that is very cool! How to get from 10K to 1/2 Mary? The easiest thing for you to do is probably take a week off after your 10K and then slowly build up the mileage through July and August, say by adding a mile to your weekend long runs – start with 5 miles two weeks after your 10K and then add 1 mile per week. This would take you to the beginning of end of August/beginning of September having conquered 12 miles at one time. Then taper down by as many as 3 miles each week (so run 9 – 10 miles the first weekend of September and then 6 – 8 miles the second weekend). This should give your legs the chance to feel refreshed for your 1/2. Don’t forget to just keep doing whatever it is you are doing during the week – you can keep those runs pretty much the same, just make sure you are running at least twice during the workweek (Tuesdays and Thursdays are my preferred days).
Good luck, thank you for doing your half. Keep me posted and obviously, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
-Luau
Good luck with your half on 9/22. You’ll be with us in spirit on 9/16!
[…] Whether you are a novice runner, an avid marathoner, or a power couch potato – I want you. I need you. My daughter Brooke needs you. My family needs you. The entire Autism Community needs you. You can read my pitch to you from back in March —>HERE<—. […]
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