1in88 Walk, Money for Autism Therapies
I am Nechole Whitlock and I will be walking 88 miles in 88 hours (Friday 4/26/2013 thru Monday 4/29/2013 at Grapevine Mills Mall) to raise money for my sons (Nicholas and Tony) year-round therapies and treatments, during Autism Awareness Month in April. I have been training since February for this walk. Please support us by considering donating $1 for every mile I walk ($88 for 88 miles). Every donation dollar will go towards our autism related therapies and treatments.
Meet my Boys (my little heroes):
Nicholas is 6yrs old and he is autistic. He was diagnosed at 2yrs old. In addition to autism, he has digestive issues, a sleep disorder, seizures, sensory challenges, and delayed speech development. He's experienced many wonderful breakthroughs in the past 2yrs due to all the therapies and treatments he's received over the past four years. Some of those therapies include Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and ABA Therapy which costs exceed $8,000 per year (with and without insurance deductibles, in and out of network). Additional treatments that have positively affected him include; a gluten free / casein free / low salicylate / organic diet, supplements, and alternative therapies. Those costs have exceeded $25,000 per year. And I regularly spend $2,000-$4,000 per year on our living modifications.
Tony is 7yrs old and he has delayed processing, sensory integration issues, and speech and social challenges - he is receiving Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy. He will be evaluated this year to determine if there are additional underlying conditions to address.
Cost of Autism: I personally pay a "helping angel" who has cared for and blessed both boys over the past few years (she is amazing). The annual cost I've personally spent on their care, accommodations, treatment and therapies exceeded $42,000 in 2011 and $52,000 in 2012 ($6,000 went to summer programs for both boys). I anticipate I will personally spend more than $65,000 in 2013. To cover all the expenses plus in and out of network insurance deductibles ($6k/$10k), I have consistently worked 2-3 jobs at once. This year, I am walking in April to help raise some of the money we will need in 2013. Please support us by donating $1 for every mile I walk ($88 for 88 miles) via this page. Of the donations received, $5,000 will go towards our summer programs and $5,000 will go towards our therapies. It is estimated that if families pursued all the therapies and treatments that could help their autistic children, they could easily spend more than $80,000 per year (cost stories: http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/02/pf/autism/index.htm, http://gma.yahoo.com/autism-bankrupts-families-emotionally-financially-022815106--abc-news-health.html).
About Autism: 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with Autism (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls). Per a 3/20/2013, CDC survey the numbers are more like 1 in 50 children 6-17 years of age (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf). This is more than children affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome - combined. A child is diagnosed with autism every 15 minutes. To learn more about autism, please feel free to check out: http://www.autismspeaks.org/, http://www.autism-society.org/, http://nationalautismassociation.org/, http://www.autismone.org/, http://www.tacanow.org/
Watch Nicholas' Youtube Autism Walk video.
Thank you so much for your support, prayers, and consideration. Feel free to contact me anytime, (469) [phone redacted] or private message me via Facebook. Check out my Facebook page for regular updates.
Blessings on you - Nechole Whitlock
ASD Families - Please join me by walking 1 mile with me during my 1 in 88 walk. You will represent the 1/ONE in our 1 in 88 autism journey. Let's support each other while we are on this journey. Click here to walk 1 mile with me.
