Two Marathons, Two Cities, One Cause
41,280.
That is how many steps it takes, on average, to complete a marathon.
This year, Team Autism Speaks runners took 8,132,160 steps to raise autism awareness during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the ING NYC Marathon. Early in 2009, Autism Speaks announced open positions for those interested in running with Team Autism Speaks in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and ING NYC Marathon. Over 500 people showed interest and 50 runners for Chicago and 125 runners for New York were selected for our guaranteed entry positions.
That is how many steps it takes, on average, to complete a marathon.
This year, Team Autism Speaks runners took 8,132,160 steps to raise autism awareness during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the ING NYC Marathon. Early in 2009, Autism Speaks announced open positions for those interested in running with Team Autism Speaks in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and ING NYC Marathon. Over 500 people showed interest and 50 runners for Chicago and 125 runners for New York were selected for our guaranteed entry positions.
A Team Autism Speaks runner during the ING NYC Marathon
On October 11, the Team Autism Speaks runners participated in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for the first time. To date, the team has raised over $109,000. The night before the race, the team was treated to a private pasta dinner at Harry Caray's. Team members mixed and mingled for the first time and shared their inspiration for running the marathon. One dad dedicated this marathon, his first, to his wife “who runs the real marathon every day” with their two and four year old boys, who both have autism. Another first-time marathoner was a woman from St. Louis who was running for her 30-year-old sister, diagnosed at 16 after losing all her speech at age nine. Another participant was a young a woman who broke down in tears after telling everyone how her 28-year-old brother had done so well this week, despite being far from home and out of his routine.
November 1 marked the 40th anniversary of the ING NYC Marathon and the third year of Team Autism Speaks participation. This year's team of 132 runners has raised $450,000 to date. In New York, the course winds through all five boroughs, crossing a number of bridges and climbing a number of hills. Running for Autism Speaks with a specific person in mind is all the more motivation to keep going. One runner's son was just diagnosed in February; he felt that running the New York City Marathon would be a great
Chicago Team Autism Speaks supporters at mile 14.
platform for him to bring attention to autism. He finished the race in 3:32:05 and celebrated his accomplishment – renewed hope for his son's future and that of others on the spectrum.
“In 2007, when we entered our first team of 50 runners in the ING NYC Marathon, we never thought the runners would have such an impact. Since then, we have entered teams in four other marathons, including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and we are extremely proud of the dedication of all the participants,” said Mark Roithmayr, president, Autism Speaks.
Over the past three years, Autism Speaks marathon teams have raised over $830,000. To learn more about how you can join us next year, please e-mail either chicagomarathon@autismspeaks.org or nymarathon@autismspeaks.org for the event you are interested in.
“In 2007, when we entered our first team of 50 runners in the ING NYC Marathon, we never thought the runners would have such an impact. Since then, we have entered teams in four other marathons, including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and we are extremely proud of the dedication of all the participants,” said Mark Roithmayr, president, Autism Speaks.
Over the past three years, Autism Speaks marathon teams have raised over $830,000. To learn more about how you can join us next year, please e-mail either chicagomarathon@autismspeaks.org or nymarathon@autismspeaks.org for the event you are interested in.
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