Autism & ApologetiX: How You Can Help
Mon., Apr. 30. 2007 12:29pm EDT
Hello, this is J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX again.
As you may know, my youngest daughter, Kelly, has autism, a neurological disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines.
Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
Kelly was diagnosed two years ago, when she was 18 months old. She has shown tremendous progress, largely due to the great therapists who've worked so hard with her.
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability, and there is no known cause, treatment, or cure for it. Nevertheless, it remains one of the least funded areas of medical research. That's why Autism Speaks holds its annual walk program, Walk Now for Autism.
The Pittsburgh Walk for Autism will be held the morning of Saturday, June 2. I'll be driving through the night from our show in Chattanooga TN to join my family for the walk, and then I'll fly out to Oklahoma for the concert Saturday night.
If you'd like to help us raise money for autism research, there are a few ways you can help:
1. Join a walk. If you'd like to walk with us in Pittsburgh, you can join our team, Kelly's Pride, by going to http://www.autismwalk.org/goto/kellyspride. If you'd like to form your own team or join a walk closer to you, go to http://www.walknowforautism.org.
2. Make a donation. You can make a donation by going to our team page listed above. Donations can be made on behalf of the team or individual team members. Every dollar counts, and even the smallest donations make a difference.
3. Purchase "Kelly's Pride" merchandise. My wife, Lisa, has set up a store on Cafepress to sell team merchandise and other autism-awareness products. All proceeds from logo items will be donated to the Pittsburgh autism walk. You can visit her shop at http://www.cafepress.com/kellyspride.
Whatever you can give will help! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on our progress.
Thank you and God bless you,
J.
You can learn more about autism by visiting http://www.autismspeaks.com.
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