On November 3rd, on my 28th birthday, I’ll be running the New York City Marathon with TeamUp to support Autism Speaks! 

My mom, Annette, has dedicated the past 19 years of her life to educating students with autism and special needs in the Ridgewood Public School system. I have seen first hand through my mom’s many years as an educator how transformative education, intervention and support can be to the life of a child with autism. It is an honor to run in support of a charity which is dedicated to the advocacy and funding of autism research to help educators, like my mother, continue to change lives. 

This NYC marathon is extra special this year as it falls on my 28th birthday. I was born on Marathon Sunday, November 3, 1996, and it has always been a personal goal of mine to run the marathon on the exact day I was born. The NYC Marathon holds a significant and special place in my family's heart, and I am so excited to share this day with them. 

Any donation you can make is greatly appreciated. Thank you for all of your support! 

What is Autism and Autism Speaks? 

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. They empower people with autism and their families with resources, online tools and information covering the life span.