London Marathon (Fundraising)

September 7, 2015 Faux Runner Comments 3 comments

That’s how I felt when I first read the email from OAR (Organization for Autism Research) offering me a charity spot into the LONDON MARATHON to RUN FOR AUTISM with the OAR.

Yes, THAT London. One of the world majors. My Bucket List LONDON!

Ever since I wanted to do a marathon 5 years ago, I’ve always wanted to do the London marathon. For those not in the know, it is super hard to get a charity spot for London, let alone into the general lottery. The London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event on the planet – runners have raised over £700 million for causes since the race began in 1981.

When I was offered the charity spot, I had no hesitation. Having seen many friends raise kids on the Autism Spectrum, I was excited to be part of the team to contribute to the applied research. As an endurance athlete with a passion for sharing the spark among others and a desire to make a difference in the world we live in, what better way than to combine the two?

Did you know –

Autism now affects 1 in 68 children
Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
There is no medical detection or cure for autism

Families affected by autism continually have to fight for their children by searching for treatment and resources, educating themselves about this condition and spreading information to teachers, peers and other stakeholders. OAR (Organization for Autism Research) takes over a piece of this burden for families. 83 cents of every dollar raised funds innovative research to help families find answers to their most urgent questions.

I have pledged to raise $5000 for this worthy cause. It will also allow me to run my bucket list marathon. (All the $5000 you help me raise will go to OAR. My race registration, flights, stay, etc are all my personal expenses and will not be covered by the fundraising.) To be honest, the $5000 is by far the LARGEST amount I’ve attempted to fundraise. It scares me and excites me too, because it is challenging me to step out of my comfort zone. And broken down into smaller quantities, it is $20 from 250 friends. Which is less than 1/3 of my facebook friends!

Working together, we will find the missing pieces of the Autism Puzzle! Visit: http://www.researchautism.org/ to learn more about the wonderful programs your donation is supporting.

Please consider a donation to this most wonderful cause. Every little bit helps.