Wintery weather and slushy roads may have contributed to a smaller turnout, but the enthusiasm at the second Autism Awareness on Saturday was at least equal to last year's event.
Approximately 37 people attended the event and walked, rolled and, in some cases, skipped around the gymnasium area of Territorial Drive Alliance Church. While some funds were raised through pledges, including a $100 donation from the John Paul II Collegiate Key Club, the main purpose of the event is bringing awareness to the public about autism, said organizer Terry Wiegers of the Battlefords Society for Autism.
The first walkathon was held last year, with the society partnering with the Battlefords Residential Services Inc. and John Paul II Collegiate Key Club. It proved so successful, organizers decided to make it an annual event.
Like last year's event, this year's walkathon marked Autism Awareness Month. Speaking before the walking got underway, Wiegers thanked the Battlefords Residential services staff and residents as well as the John Paul II Collegiate Key Club for their support and assistance.
Weigers also thanked Pastor Keith Klippenstein of the Territorial Drive Alliance Church for offering the use of the gym and kitchen facility at no cost to the society.
"We are very grateful to him making this event possible for us."
She also offered a special thank you to Marie Schneider, program co-ordinator for Battlefords Residential Services, for arranging for staff and residents to take part, and to Dennis Mercer, a teacher at John Paul II Collegiate for getting the Key Club involved.
She had words of congratulations for the group, which started about five years ago with only a few members but has grown to 51.
She also thanked all the volunteers who helped with registration and preparing the hot dog lunch that followed the walk.
While this is its first awareness walk, the society has been active in the Battlefords for about 17 years.
It had its beginnings in 1995 when two couples with autistic sons met to discuss the great need for a support system and to raise awareness of autism in the Battlefords and surrounding area. On March 16, the society was organized as a non-profit organization.
Socialization for persons with autism and their families plays a key factor in the organization.
The society has also sponsored parents, teacher aides and various individuals to attend conferences to benefit in the teaching and support of autistic individuals as well as organizing three conferences itself.
As well, it has donated scholarships to four students with autism graduating from high school, and contributed $5,000 toward the development of a sensory room at Holy Family School.
Respite care is also important in the delivery of care to members. A summer student program is carried out annually with university students providing individual respite care to autistic persons and their families.
According to the Autism Canada Foundation, autism is used to describe a wide spectrum of symptoms. Since children's severity of symptoms vary so widely, professionals have been using the term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to emphasize the variance. Those who are affected with ASD fit a number of descriptions in several categories; in all cases, early intervention is the key to success, no matter what the diagnosis.
