I am so excited to have the opportunity to pair two things that I am extremely passionate about: Autism and Running! On April 22nd, 2018 I will have the privelege to join tens of thousands of runners in the London Marathon as a member of Team OAR (Organization for Autism Research).
My life was touched by autism in 2009 when my son was diagnosed at the age of 7 with Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism). All of a sudden we had answers to some behaviors we had been dealing with since he was two years old. I also had so many questions and no idea who to turn to or where to find the answers. I decided to approach my son's diagnosis head-on to better understand what Asperger's Syndrome looks like and how I could help him be successful in a neurotypical environment.
After years of work and cultivating not only an understanding of autism but also a support group to help other families navigating this world, I have come to a clearer understanding and appreciation of autism spectrum disorders. I regularly stay informed about new discoveries in autism research and believe that there is so much more about this disorder that we still do not know. With children being diagnosed at a rate of 1 in 68, I believe it is crucial that we continue funding research in the area of autism in order to understand why we have a rapidly growing population of persons living with autism.
I started running in 2009 as well and decided to train for my first marathon in 2011. Running has been my own personal therapy as I work through the challenges and stress that comes with parenting a child on the autism spectrum. I love the marathon because it requires discipline and perseverance. The London Marathon will be my 9th marathon which I am VERY excited about!
My son is now 16 years old and thriving. While he still deals with the Executive Functioning and social struggles that are symptoms of this disorder, he is excelling in high school and has learned to recognize specific needs that he has in order to mentally and emotionally navigate daily life.
Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution towards my fundraising efforts.
Thank you for your support! It is my hope that further discoveries are made and the world will have a better understanding of what autism is and the various factors that contribute to a diagnosis.
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Microsoft Matching Gifts Program | 02/25/2018 | $1,300.00 | Norman & Ethel Thayer | 02/25/2018 | $800.00 | Good luck you ol' poop! | Microsoft Matching Gifts Program | 02/25/2018 | $800.00 | Flo & Scott Mathis | 02/21/2018 | $500.00 | Good Luck in London, Monica. Have Fun!! | Anonymous Friend | 02/12/2018 | $1,400.00 | Kathryn Rapp | 02/12/2018 | $25.00 | Happy belated birthday!! (And go get that marathon!) | Jeff Lewis | 02/10/2018 | $50.00 | Chuck Christensen | 02/10/2018 | $50.00 | Best Wishes Monica | Brenda Frank | 02/10/2018 | $30.00 | Jennifer Rozler | 02/10/2018 | $20.00 | Good luck Monica! Sorry to miss your race! | Anonymous Friend | 02/10/2018 | $100.00 | Good luck in London, dear. I'm proud of you. | Lauren Hyatt | 02/08/2018 | $50.00 | Happy Birthday Monica! | Anonymous Friend | 12/30/2017 | $1,300.00 | Pamela Byerly | 12/20/2017 | $1,600.00 | $100 for each year of Jaeden Luke Byerly’s life - for the difference he makes in all of our lives! | Kathryn Rapp | 12/11/2017 | $75.00 | Good luck, Monica!! Have a great run!! ❤️ | Monica Byerly | 12/05/2017 | $50.00 |
| Total | $8,150.00 | ||