Terps' Williams To Chair 2005 National Capital Area Walk For Autism Research
5/5/2005 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 5, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the third-consecutive year, Maryland head basketball coach Gary Williams will act as the Honorary Chairman of "Walk F.A.R. for NAAR," an annual friends and family event that raises funds for the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR). Williams will join more than 5,000 walkers on Saturday, May 7, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Md.
Williams, former Maryland basketball player Bob Bodell (1971-73), WUSA-TV9's Chief Meteorologist Topper Shutt and local Grammy award winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer are among those who are taking part in the event to raise funds for autism research. All proceeds will benefit NAAR, which provides funding to researchers worldwide in their quest to find the causes, prevention, treatment and cure of autism spectrum disorders.
Already, a pre-event record $250,000 has been raised even before the walkers have taken one step, and the event's organizers expect to receive more generous pledges and donations on Saturday.
The last local Walk F.A.R. for NAAR, in May 2004, raised $512,000 and featured more than 5,000 participants. The three local walks since 2001 have combined to raise more than $1.7 million.
Since the first inaugural walk in May 2000, NAAR has conducted 65 Walk F.A.R. events nationally, with more than 171,000 participants. To date, more than $18.3 million for research has been raised.
"Our last two walks have raised $1.7 million. We are so pleased that the Washington, D.C., area families and friends have been so supportive of this important research," said National Capital Area Walk F.A.R. for NAAR Executive Committee member Lennie Gladstone. "The statistics are shocking: researchers now estimate that autism spectrum disorders affect one out of every 166 children. Recent studies have found autism is on the rise. Scientists are working hard to find the reasons. It's our job to help them by providing much needed funding."
This two-mile walk will be a family friendly event with entertainment, refreshments and live music provided by local band Retrospect. WUSA-TV9's Shutt will serve as the event's master of ceremonies.
Individual walkers, as well as family, school or business teams are invited to join in the cause. Register online at www.autismwalk.org/wdc or by calling 301-519-0770.
