People to walk, run against autism

April is Autism Awareness Month and a group of local families of children with autism spectrum disorders are planning a fun run and walk to raise awareness of the condition.

“It’s just a time to recognize those people who have autism spectrum disorders, to celebrate them and just bring more awareness to them,” Jessie Fuzesy of Quality of Life Concepts, a social services agency in Havre that provides services to those with autism, said.

The Autism Fun Run and Awareness Walk is slated for Saturday, April 30. There will be two courses, one that is a mile and another that is five kilometers, or about 3.1 miles.

Participants will meet in Northern Montana Hospital’s Community Fitness Park before heading down through the hospital campus and down to Montana State University-Northern and back.

The 5K run will start at 9:30 a.m. and the one mile at 9:45 a.m.

Fuzesy said the walk is being organized by “We are Autism Havre,” a group of about six or seven families and caregivers of children on the autism spectrum.

Sponsors include Rod’s Drive-In, Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, Five Heads, Culligan and Northern Montana Hospital Volunteers.

Fuzesy said they will try to have activities at the walk geared toward children as well as drawings and prizes for the winners of the race.

Educational material about autism spectrum disorders will also be distributed.

All those who take part will get a free T-shirt.