Community support shines as Autism Challenge raises awareness and funds

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Aroostook County is well known for its majestic mountains and rolling farm fields, sun-up to sun-down laborers, and communities that come together in helping one another. That sense of community was on display this past weekend, as the inaugural Autism Challenge brought not only support to those with autism, but raised over $5,000 for the Aroostook Autism Support Group.
The weekend’s events kicked off with the Zumba Glow hosted by Mandy Putnam on Friday evening; bringing fun, excitement, and exercise. On Saturday evening, the Autism Challenge dinner with honorary speaker Deborah Lipsky and auction was hosted at the University of Maine at Presque Isle with the support of The Aroostook Medical Center.
“Deborah was so insightful and in many ways motivational, sharing her personal knowledge of living with autism,” said Lisa Brewer of the Aroostook Autism Support Group. “Our community came through at the auction. It was so nice to look around the room, seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter — all while raising money for a cause so personal to me.”
The weekend wrapped up with the Autism Challenge 5K Run and the Autism Society of Maine Walk on Sunday morning at the Presque Isle Middle School, directed by CompetitorME. Over 100 runners and walkers showed their support, despite cloud-filled skies and a chilly morning.
“I watched as our community gathered to participate in both the run and walk,” said Maeghan Swanson of the Aroostook Autism Support Group. “Words cannot describe the sense of appreciation and the thanks in my heart for all those that came out to support our efforts to raise awareness, acceptance and love of autism in Aroostook County.”
The Aroostook Autism Support Group also announced their first gift to the community. In June, two Autism Safety and Education sessions, hosted by Matt Brown, will be provided. ASET’s training program provides in-depth information on all aspects of autism spectrum disorders, placing special emphasis on those aspects of autism spectrum disorder that impact safety. First responders are taught skills to prevent, recognize and respond to crisis situations involving persons on the autism spectrum. These trainings will be offered at no cost to first responders, school administrators, case workers, social workers, therapists and parents of autistic children. Training dates will be announced soon.
“As not only a co-founder of the Aroostook Autism Support Group, but also as a mother of a child diagnosed with autism, I am in awe of the amount of people that came to these events and made them such a huge success. If I have learned anything this weekend, it is that this county may be small, but it is strong and it wraps its arms around those in need,” said Swanson.
The second annual Autism Challenge will be held in April 2015.
For more information, look for the Aroostook Autism Support Group on Facebook. The group’s next meeting will be Tuesday, May 6, 6-8 p.m. in one of TAMC’s conference rooms.