Our Greatest Strength: Community Spirit
Reprinted with Permission from the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror
Thursday, August 30, 2007 Newspaper Edition
August 30, 2007
To the Editor:
Nantucket's great strength doesn't just come from it's beaches, ocean or wide blue skies. It comes from the people in the community. Time after time, Nantucketers rally together to support others in need. On Saturday, Aug. 25, over 1,000 people came to Jetties Beach. They wore T-shirts, they collected money, and they walked around Brant Pont to raise awareness for autism.
My son, Rourke, is autistic. Crowds are usually a challenge for him, but he had a great time Saturday at the Walk. The first words he uttered early Sunday morning were “I wish there was a Walk for Autism every day.” Maybe he loved being interviewed by two TV stations. Maybe he loved seeing so many friends wearing his bright orange “Rourke's Rockin' Racers” T-shirts. Or maybe he just loved seeing so many people willing to accept him for who he is, without judging him. He has a hard road ahead of him, as does every child who is on the spectrum. But with the support, awareness and the thousand fellow travelers that walked non Saturday, his path should be a lot easier.
The Walk was a huge success for Autism Speaks, for the community, and for every island family touched by Autism. So thank you, Nantucket. Thanks to all of the businesses and individuals that gave over $330,000 to help these kids. Thank you, Bob and Suzanne Wright, for founding Autism Speaks and making this epidemic so public. The Wrights and Autism Speaks deserve a special thank-you for agreeing to fund an autism resource center here on Nantucket. Finally, thank you Nantucket for supporting and accepting these beautiful people who have autism.
SYDNEY FEE BARSANTI
Thursday, August 30, 2007 Newspaper Edition
August 30, 2007
To the Editor:
Nantucket's great strength doesn't just come from it's beaches, ocean or wide blue skies. It comes from the people in the community. Time after time, Nantucketers rally together to support others in need. On Saturday, Aug. 25, over 1,000 people came to Jetties Beach. They wore T-shirts, they collected money, and they walked around Brant Pont to raise awareness for autism.
My son, Rourke, is autistic. Crowds are usually a challenge for him, but he had a great time Saturday at the Walk. The first words he uttered early Sunday morning were “I wish there was a Walk for Autism every day.” Maybe he loved being interviewed by two TV stations. Maybe he loved seeing so many friends wearing his bright orange “Rourke's Rockin' Racers” T-shirts. Or maybe he just loved seeing so many people willing to accept him for who he is, without judging him. He has a hard road ahead of him, as does every child who is on the spectrum. But with the support, awareness and the thousand fellow travelers that walked non Saturday, his path should be a lot easier.
The Walk was a huge success for Autism Speaks, for the community, and for every island family touched by Autism. So thank you, Nantucket. Thanks to all of the businesses and individuals that gave over $330,000 to help these kids. Thank you, Bob and Suzanne Wright, for founding Autism Speaks and making this epidemic so public. The Wrights and Autism Speaks deserve a special thank-you for agreeing to fund an autism resource center here on Nantucket. Finally, thank you Nantucket for supporting and accepting these beautiful people who have autism.
SYDNEY FEE BARSANTI
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