Light it up blue for Autism Speaks Walk

On Oct. 22, theAutism Speaks Walkwill return to Philadelphia for the seventh annual walk at Citizens Bank Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. You must be registered to walk in this event but they do not charge a registration fee, which allows each individual to make their own personal donations. This walk is rain or shine and is about 1.25 miles long.

The Autism Speaks Walk is the world’s largest fundraising event to support the autism community to improve the lives of people affected with autism, not only in Philadelphia but across the country as well.Alpha Xi Deltasponsors this event and has raised more than $5 million for their philanthropic partner. Many chapters of this women’s fraternal organization will gather with the affected families for this cause on Saturday, including the Iota Chi chapter from Temple University.

“The walk is a great opportunity to embrace the community around us. We have a great opportunity to really show our support for Autism Speaks and the individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as their families,” saidCourtney Periu, the current internal philanthropy chair for Iota Chi.

She continued: “We hold so many of our own events throughout the year to help support Autism Speaks, so it’s really great to get the chance to have an event together where we can all come together to spread awareness and support one another.”

A child is diagnosed with autismevery eight minutes, making autism one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the United States.More than 3.5 million Americans live with autism, which costs a family $60,000 a year on average.Every year, Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in almost 100 cities across North America to help these families and promote advocacy for this cause. If you are unable to make the event, don’t worry. You can still light it up blue onApril 2 forWorld Autism Awareness Day.

Jennifer Stypinski, the manager of field development says: “The walk enables us to further our mission of enhancing lives today and is accelerating a spectrum of solutions fortomorrowfor individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.”

If you go:
Autism Speaks Walk Philadelphia
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016
Citizens Bank Park
Free, donations encouraged