It's hard to believe Walk F.A.R. for NAAR turns five years old this year. And what better way to celebrate than taking a trip – across the country and around the world as NAAR prepares for its biggest Walk season ever.

The 2005 Walk season kicks off on February 26 with the first annual Greater Austin (TX) Walk F.A.R. for NAAR, which takes place at the Dell Diamond in Austin. Additional inaugural Walks in 2005 include events in London, Toronto, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, OR, Baltimore, Wilmington, DE, Abilene, TX, Great Falls, MT, and West Plains, MO. In all, NAAR will hold approximately 40 Walk events in three countries this year.

The Walk's ongoing expansion in 2005 is a natural progression for the program, which has experienced extraordinary growth since its debut in 2000. The international expansion of the Walk complements NAAR's efforts to establish new affiliates in Canada and the United Kingdom.

“Autism does not respect geography – it affects families all over the world,” said NAAR Trustee Dame Stephanie Shirley, who is playing an instrumental role in the establishment of NAAR's first European affiliate in Britain. “Our primary focus is to help NAAR achieve its global mission to determine the causes of autism, find ways to effectively treat autism and to find a cure.”

For more information on the 2005 Walk season or to learn how to bring Walk F.A.R. for NAAR to your community, visit www.autismwalk.org or call 888.777.6227, ext. 33.