Glorious sunshine welcomed more than 1,000 friends and family to the Step Up for Autism Walk and Fun Run that took place this morning along the beautiful Riverwalk in downtown Naperville.
Started six years ago as a way to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders, this event continues to attract dozens of spirited teams in matching colorful t-shirts, drawing large crowds to watch and more than 200 volunteers to help.
Geared toward families of all ages, youngsters enjoyed a special kids area with inflatable bounce houses and lots of other hands-on activities provided by the DuPage Children’s Museum.
Food vendors provided healthful snacks. One mother noted her autistic child with a dislike for apples will only eat apples at the Little Friends’ event, so she was pleased.
Other kids enjoyed seeing a firetruck named Neptune up close and personal.
With seasonal summer temperatures, folks also were invited to warm up before the walk to music, thanks to generous sponsors at 95.9 The River and their very own Danielle Tufano and The River Road Crew.
Enthusiastic participants were encouraged to loosen up doing jumping jacks, shoulder rolls forward and backward, smiles, stretches and squats, just to name a few.
Just beyond the start line, Mayor George Pradel sounded the air horn at 9:30AM and the family-friendly fun run followed by a walk began. Encouraging words of appreciation were heard from Little Friends’ Executive Director Kristi Landorf and Chairman of the Little Friends Board of Directors Dan Casey.
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Interesting notes were taken regarding how some teams have grown to be more than 100 participants during the six-year history of the event and why other families and individuals support the run/walk.
For instance, several years ago, Naperville resident Helen Ware and her son, Jeremy, started giving the opportunity to participate in Step Up for Autism to her husband, Samuel, as a present for Father’s Day. Now the experience to help create awareness about autism on a Sunday morning in June is part of the family’s Father’s Day gift tradition.
Tim’s Team attracted the most participants this year with members wearing blue t-shirts again emblazoned with one of Tim’s favorite expressions, “Well Hello There.” In the past, Tim’s Team has promoted other such sayings as “At times like these, I wish I were a cow,” “I’m not suited for this event,” and “Oh, I’ll never tell,” said team organizer Debbie Feldman, Tim’s aunt.
Other teams have begun using the annual event as a family reunion. Many individuals came to support the continued mission of Little Friends, a private, non-profit organization serving children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Founded in 1965 and based in Naperville, Little Friends operates 11 programs including three alternative schools, family support and consultation services, vocational training programs, community-based residential services and the Little Friends Center for Autism.
Help raise awareness every day
Every April is Autism Awareness Month, but spreading facts and information about autism every day is key to understanding the disability. Blue is the color chosen to represent the complex developmental disability that is growing in incidence and in need for understanding. Many experts think Autism presents itself during the first three years of a child’s life. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, affecting development of an individual’s communication and social interaction skills.
Individuals with autism, more often boys than girls, have issues with non-verbal communication, including a wide spectrum of other social interactions. Early intervention is critical. The Center For Disease Control estimates that 1 in 68 children fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. When PN first began attending Step Up for Autism, the estimate was 1 in 88 children.
