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The road race was started by Ron and Tina Rosenfeld, owners of New Balance New Canaan, after they noticed many of their customers coming in to buy shoes for their autistic children but wouldn’t bring them, a news release said. They then began opening their store after hours so people can bring in their children and joined forces with SPED*NET (Special Education Network of New Canaan) to further help and the fund-raiser began.
“The goal of the event is to raise awareness of Autism within our community. One-in-88 children are diagnosed with autism [spectrum disorder], and it is currently the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States. We hope that as the event grows each year, so will awareness and support for those individuals with autism within our community,” Ron Rosenfeld said in a news release.
Last year more than 500 people participated raising $10,000 which was used to host two dances for people with special needs and their families, the release said. The YMCA was also able to purchase sensory equipment for youth members of the center.
“Through these funds, we have been able to provide fun, support, and lasting memories for our community’s special needs population,” Carolynn Kaufman, director of Special Needs Programming at the YMCA, said in the release.
The race will begin and end at New Balance New Canaan, 128 Main St., with the course running through downtown. The event will start with a Zumba warm up at 6:15 p.m., a quarter-mile Kids Fun Run, before the 5K starts at 6:30 p.m., the release said.
Registration for the race is available online or at New Balance New Canaan. The registration fee is $20 before Aug. 19, $25 from Aug. 20 through 23, and $30 for the day of the race.
For more information visit All Out For Autism’s website or call New Balance New Canaan, 203-801-0050.
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