Published 11:27am Thursday, May 9, 2013 By Alison James
Original story: http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/2013/05/09/mix-it-up-to-host-autism-5k-walk/
The autism awareness walk sponsored by Mix it Up! at Lake Martin may have been rained out, but the event is not a complete wash.
The Autism Walk has been rescheduled and will be held May 19, instead of the previously scheduled date of April 28.
As previously reported in The Record, the event is geared to send a child with autism to Camp ASCCA.
“I’m always looking for something to do for people,” said Mix it Up! at Lake Martin owner Wendy Hodge, who organized the event. “I’ve got friends with kids with autism, and I just wanted to put a face to it.”
The Autism Walk/Run is set for 2 p.m. with a special presentation to follow at 4 p.m.
Hodge said Lt. Bill Hough from the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department will be at the walk handing out pamphlets for Project Lifesaver, a program for children who are nonverbal and/or wander off from their parents.
“We received a grant for the initial investment into Project Lifesaver,” Hough said. “It’s a tracking device for mainly nonverbal people with autism or Alzheimer’s patients who wander. We can put a bracelet on them and use the telemetry to help locate them.”
Hough said the program has been in place at the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s department about six months.
“Anything we can do for the public is paramount,” Hough said. “We supply the training and the bracelet, and then should the individual wander, hopefully we’re able to locate them in a timely manner.
“I think it’s a great program.”
The walk around the square in downtown Dadeville is $5. The 5K costs $10. All funds raised go to Camp ASCCA.
“We have many campers that have some form of autism,” said Dana Rickman with Camp ASCCA. “People with autism react in a variety of ways in different settings … We have a lot of campers that do very well and open up a lot (at camp).”
It costs $695 to send a child to one of Camp ASCCA’s camps.
People who want to participate in the walk/run can register immediately prior to the event at Mix it Up! at Lake Martin.
Visit Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/447818101967463/
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
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