7th Annual “Walk for Autism”

The community marched together for a good cause Saturday.

The 7th annual “Walk for Autism” took place at Zanes Landing Park and brought out a large crowd, despite the rain. The National Autism Association of Southeast Ohio hosted the event to raise awareness and money for families affected. President of NAASEO, Shannon Coconis, told us an event like this brings kids and families one step closer to beating autism.

“It’s one of two fundraisers that we do to raise money for families locally, we offer family grants, so that families can pay for treatments for their kids who are not covered by insurance in Ohio, and these are treatments that can recover children from autism,” Coconis said.

Seven years later and still going strong, Coconis said the association raised more than $20,000 in donations for local families in 2014. This year, more than 300 people pre-registered for the walk.

“If one or two families come through here and they get information to start them on a journey of recovery, then we’ve done our job, because that’s what we’re here for is to help these families and help these kids so they don’t have to live with autism their whole life,” Coconis said.

Autism now affects one in 68 children in the United States.