One Stride At A Time

CURE AUTISM NOW RUN 2001 WILL HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND FIND A CURE FOR AUTISM. "ONE STRIDE AT A TIME" WILL BE HELD ON JULY 4, 2001.

POTOMAC, MD – The first Cure Autism Now Run of 2001 will happen on July 4, in Potomac Village. This 5K race, coupled with a 1-mile run-walk will draw competitive runners, as well as walkers of all ages in support of this worthwhile cause.

The Cure Autism Now – Run 2001 has been organized in an effort to make more people aware of the anguish of autism. Autism is a serious neurological disorder that typically strikes children in the first three years of life. Children with autism experience severe impairment in language, social interactions, cognition and communication.

Autism strikes an estimated 1 out of every 500 children born in the U.S today and it is the third most common developmental disability, following mental retardation and cerebral palsy. Autism has a devastating impact on over 400,000 Americans and costs the nation over $13 billion a year. Yet, it receives less than 15% of the federal research funding of these other childhood diseases.

Cure Autism Now, a foundation, is an organization of parents; clinicians and scientists dedicated to finding effective biological treatments, prevention and cure for autism and related disorders. In addition to a primary focus of accelerating and funding critical biomedical research, Cure Autism Now is also committed to broadening awareness and understanding of a disease that has been virtually ignored for over forty years.

The citizens of Montgomery County and the surrounding area can help fund this community event and join in the efforts to raise awareness and to find a cure for autism. Cure Autism Now encourages both corporate and individual sponsors for this worthwhile cause.

LEVELS

1. Sponsor - for a $5,000 donation, one will receive top billing of promotional partnership status with premier advertising opportunities on race day, customized space on the brochure and tee shirts, included in all media communications.

2. Platinum - for a $2,500 donation, one will be featured prominently in the brochure, advertising opportunity on race day and listing on the race tee shirt.

3. Gold - for a $1,000 donation, one will receive prominent listing in the brochure and listing on the tee shirt.

4. Silver - for a $500 donation, one will receive a logo in the brochure and on the tee shirt.

5. Bronze - for a $250 donation, one will be listed in the brochure.

6. Friend - for a $100 donation, one can be an individual contributor.

All donations raised for Cure Autism Now are tax-deductible and directly support research, outreach, awareness and resource establishment.

If you are interested in helping participating in the Cure Autism Now - Run 2001 or supporting the event, please contact Susan Pereles, RN, MPH, Race Director at (301)-419-8198. You can also register on line at www.cureautismnow.org.

About Cure Autism Now

Cure Autism Now is an organization of parents, physicians, and researchers, dedicated to promoting and funding research with direct clinical implications for treatment and a cure for autism. The largest private funder of autism research, since its founding in 1995 Cure Autism Now has directed over $5 million to support research projects and a crucial scientific resource - the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE). AGRE is the world's first collaborative gene bank that contains information on families with more than one child with autism.

Cure Autism Now believes that early detection; prevention, treatment and eventually a cure for autism are possible. It is only a matter of time, energy, commitment and money. Particularly now, when the explosion in scientific and medical knowledge is leading to important discoveries every day, we cannot let another generation of children slip away.

There was a time, not very long ago, when families with autistic children were told to place their children in an institution and to get on with their own lives. At Cure Autism Now, we know that the final chapter in the lives of our children has yet to be written. Together, we will turn the page on a brand new chapter of hope for the hundreds of thousands of families affected by autism. For more information please visit www.cureautismnow.org.

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