Team Jesse James and the Outlaw Walkers will once again participate in the Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks. The walk is set for Sept. 20 at Stanley Park. Teams can register at www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/wne. (Photo by Becca & Kat’s Photography)
WESTFIELD – The Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks committee is gearing up for this year’s event, set for Sept. 20 at Stanley Park. Walk teams are forming and registering now at www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/wne.
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), gather as a community, and raise funds for Autism Speaks, the leading autism research and resource organization in the world.
Westfield resident Becca Matthew and her son Jesse. (Photo by Becca & Kat’s Photography)
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that impairs an individual’s ability to communicate, form relationships with others and relate to their surroundings. Seventy-three percent of every dollar raised goes back to Autism Speaks’ mission, to change the future for all who struggle with ASD. In March the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its latest autism prevalence findings and reported that one in 68 children – including one in every 42 boys – is diagnosed with autism.
Team Jesse James and the Outlaw Walkers Captain Becca Matthew, of Westfield, first joined the walk in 2012. Her son Jesse was diagnosed in March of 2012 at 27 months old.
“I felt like I needed to do something…be involved in something,” said Matthew. “I felt like I needed to take action to make a difference for families like ours. Our service coordinator from WITS (Westfield Infant Toddler services) recommended that we sign up for the walk. I did right away, and we started fundraising immediately. We were then deemed the honor of being the Ambassador Family for the walk that year, so I knew we had to do big things with our fundraising.”
Teams raise funds in different ways. Some solicit donations from family, friends, and co-workers, and others host events. Matthew has become pretty creative with her efforts and has organized a casino bus trip, held numerous tag sales, gathered change in buckets in some smaller local stores, sold advertising on the backs of team shirts for a larger donation, held a vendor fair, and most recently hosted a Royal Princess Tea Party, which was Team Jesse James and the Outlaws’ largest fundraising event to date.
Over the past decade, some walk teams have come and gone. This year, walk committee members hope teams that have waned over the years will participate once again.
The event is more than just a walk, said organizers. It is a place for the autism community to come together and network and just have fun. The walk includes a Resource Fair for people in need of autism resources, services, or who just have questions. Resources for the newly diagnosed as well as those in the crucial transition stage of entering adulthood will be available. Autism Speaks will also provide fun in the form of a children’s activity area and a DJ.
Matthew said she and her team will participate for years to come.
“We walk every year, and will continue to do so into the future,” she said. “ It brings my friends and family together for such a great cause. We do it in honor of Jesse, and we use it as a celebration of how far he has come! He has been through a lot, and hundreds of hours of therapy… the least we can do is match the efforts he has made with our fundraising efforts.”
Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are the signature fundraising events for Autism Speaks. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 100 cities across North America. Between 2012 and 2013, more than 340,000 Walkers came out in support of the autism community, raising over $59 million to advance the mission of Autism Speaks.
Matthew said Autism Speaks has been there for her family throughout their journey.
“Autism Speaks has been a great resource for our family. When I first started seeing red flags with Jesse at the age of 12 months, the Autism Speaks website was the first place I went to,” Matthew said. “I had seen their billboards, and knew that was the place to go for information. Their checklist was what I used to evaluate whether Jesse needed some attention, and it turns out he did! When I have questions, I turn to their website – I recommend it to others who have concerns with their children. I have met other amazing families in our area who are like us, thanks to Autism Speaks.
Autism Speaks has a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone with concerns, or who might want to learn more about Autism. They can point you in the right direction.”
The Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks committee is also seeking volunteer members to help plan the walk, including an upcoming kick-off event in July.
The next planned event supported by the committee is Autism Awareness Day at Six Flags June 8, which includes discount pricing, a lunch buffet, and a quiet area for families. For tickets, contact [email protected].
The Westfield News Group is this year’s walk media partner. Other sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Field Director Kate O’Neill at 617-726-1515, or like the local group on Facebook.
