My mission for the next 10 months is to raise awareness, acceptance and funds for those whose lives and families are directly impacted by autism.
I have teamed up with the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) Run For Autism in honor of my son, William Jack Isola. I chose OAR because of their focus on using research to help identify ways to improve the everyday lives of those impacted by autism.
I am kicking off my mission this month, leading up to my first race, the New York City Marathon, on November 5, 2017, and will conclude this journey on July 22, 2018, when I complete Ironman Lake Placid. These two races will cover a total of 166.8 miles and my goal is to raise $50 per-mile.
One in 68 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Though autism presents challenges throughout life, it is not what defines them. I hope you will join me in celebrating these amazing kids by sharing your personal stories and special moments as a way to help increase awareness, understanding, and acceptance of those living with autism. Our kids are not just 1 in 68, they are One-of-a-kind, and mine is one in a William. I hope you will share how yours are #OneinaWilliam too!
William is a kind, funny and joyful 12 year old boy who loves many sports, but baseball and hockey are his passion. If you need to find out who won the game last night, ask William. If you need to know when the next game is; ask William. If, for some reason, you need to know who won the 2002 World Series and who lost; ask William.
William also loves music. He prefers the classics, like the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, and Earth, Wind & Fire, to name a few. He will listen to Latin music, Gospel, references the different decades and genres of music, and can occasionally be found relaxing to some old standards while flipping through a book in his room.
He loves people. If you make a connection with William he will keep that connection and tie that to you forever. Just ask the person who has to quote Jack Bucks call of Kirk Gibson’s home run in the 1988 World Series, or the person he shakes his fist at each time he sees them as he runs to give them a hug.
William doesn’t like bugs, likes to have “the usual” for breakfast, is fantastic with directions, decompresses in his room with a radio when he comes home from school, admires the sunset, loves to dance, is anxious around dogs, despises tags on his shirts, is a popcorn junkie, and has as genuine of a heart as you will find. These are just a few examples of what makes William who he is. William has autism, but it is not what defines him. There is so much more that makes him… #OneinaWilliam
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Anonymous Friend | 12/19/2017 | $40.00 | Glenn Miller | 12/01/2017 | $500.00 | Joe & Melinda Lamantia | 11/17/2017 | $500.00 | Our love and support always!! #Oneinawilliam | Amelia Barnes | 11/10/2017 | $25.00 | Ana Luna | 11/09/2017 | $100.00 | Wishing you tons of success (and some icy baths)! | Denise Anderson | 11/08/2017 | $50.00 | Best of luck with your training and races! Love, Denise, Kevin and Kevin Charles | Kristie Postorino | 11/05/2017 | $50.00 | Frank&Tonja Isola | 11/05/2017 | $100.00 | Go William! | Melanie Ferguson | 11/04/2017 | $50.00 | Great cause, Bill. Good luck! | Lindsay Bratun | 11/03/2017 | $15.00 | To support the kiddo who I love so much!!!! #OneinaWilliam | Joyce and Jerry Schwartz | 11/03/2017 | $25.00 | Where there is love there is hope. Wonderful message | Lee Verrone | 11/03/2017 | $25.00 | Great work Bill, good luck with the races, #OneinaWilliam | Anonymous Friend | 11/02/2017 | $300.00 | #oneinawilliam #inspiration | Microsoft Matching Gifts Program | 10/31/2017 | $250.00 | Jane Roberts | 10/30/2017 | $100.00 | Go Bill! | Marie Marino | 10/30/2017 | $25.00 | What an awesome cause and I'm honored to contribute! GOOD LUCK!!!!! | Melanie & Jared Hay | 10/30/2017 | $50.00 | Best of luck to you!! | Tricia Taylor | 10/30/2017 | $50.00 | Jennifer Kovac | 10/30/2017 | $25.00 | Jason Bieber | 10/28/2017 | $100.00 | Isabelle Sperapani | 10/26/2017 | $100.00 | All the Best, Billy! | Lynn Sperapani | 10/26/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck, Billy. Great cause. | Jessica Wills | 10/26/2017 | $100.00 | Good Luck! | Laura Crank | 10/26/2017 | $50.00 | Best Wishes and Good Luck! | Anthony & Diana Amato | 10/25/2017 | $100.00 | Well done William. Good luck | Judi Hay | 10/25/2017 | $50.00 | Christine Wilbanks | 10/25/2017 | $100.00 | Best of Luck! | Barbara Sobel | 10/25/2017 | $250.00 | So proud of you William. When I see the love you have for your children and your relationship with William, I know all will be okay | Ann-Marie Goforth | 10/25/2017 | $30.00 | Mary and Al Barnett | 10/25/2017 | $50.00 | Lisa Schumacher | 10/25/2017 | $25.00 | I am awed by the lengths you go to support the causes (and people) in your life. | Gloria Avillar | 10/24/2017 | $100.00 | Good luck, Billy!! | Stephen Niven | 10/24/2017 | $100.00 | All the best Billy as you prepare to test your considerable resolve in taking on the NYC Marathon and the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon. You could not have chosen a more worthy cause! | Almus Thorp | 10/23/2017 | $25.00 | Go get ‘em. | Andrew Engel | 10/23/2017 | $100.00 | Run Bill run. | The Steuarts | 10/23/2017 | $100.00 | GO BILL! #oneinawilliam | Peter Morabito | 10/23/2017 | $100.00 | Good Luck Cool William. Love, Peter, Edith, Nicholas, and Adrianna. | Melissa Sotudeh | 10/20/2017 | $50.00 | Go William! | Feri Naseh | 10/20/2017 | $100.00 | We support William 100%. | Melissa Madden | 10/20/2017 | $50.00 | Martine Wauters | 10/19/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck to both Williams! | Paola Cobb | 10/19/2017 | $25.00 | I can't believe William is 12, he looks so big .I love what you have shared about his personality. He is wonderful! | Ann Wagnblas | 10/18/2017 | $50.00 | Suzanne Gagan | 10/18/2017 | $100.00 | Best wishes for this wonderful endeavor! | Francois Moreau | 10/18/2017 | $1,000.00 | Good luck Coach Great Cause the Moreau Family | Rob Hughes | 10/18/2017 | $500.00 | Great cause and best of luck | Deb Levy | 10/18/2017 | $100.00 | Best of luck to you with your races. William is amazing and it sounds like he can do anything - just like his parents and sister | Kathryn Stewart | 10/17/2017 | $500.00 | GO BILL! Great Cause. Good luck! Keep us posted. Kathryn and Rob Stewart | Kathryn Fulton | 10/17/2017 | $250.00 | We are delighted to support the Isola Family and One in William! The Kyle Family | Anonymous Friend | 10/17/2017 | $500.00 | Run like the wind! | Mike and Viv Carrano | 10/17/2017 | $500.00 | Great cause Bill and best of luck with marathon and ironman!! | Anonymous Friend | 10/17/2017 | $1,000.00 | William is a great kid. What a great way to honor him. You and Meredith are amazing parents. | Rachael McMillan | 10/16/2017 | $50.00 | Very happy to support you Bill. | Pat Dieli | 10/16/2017 | $25.00 | Good luck William! I have been working with children with ASD for years and loving it! | Bill and Carolyn Montrose | 10/16/2017 | $300.00 | Great cause! Good luck with the races, Bill! | Caroline, Kathy & Frank Moore | 10/16/2017 | $200.00 | #OneinaWilliam! | Jeanmarie Mulholland | 10/15/2017 | $100.00 | We love you both!! Good luck. | Peter Kaminskas | 10/15/2017 | $50.00 | #OneinaWilliam | Jim Golden | 10/14/2017 | $100.00 | Great cause! Good luck Bill!! | Joyce Jones | 10/13/2017 | $50.00 | The most worthwhile of all causes are the one's a parent takes on for a child. <3 <3 <3 Go Bill, Goooooo! | Ande & Tom McCally | 10/13/2017 | $300.00 | So honored to be included and happy to do whatever we can to get the word out! -Ande & Tom | Steve Seidel | 10/12/2017 | $200.00 | Thanks for all you do in early morning hours and throughout the day. | Samira Woodings | 10/10/2017 | $100.00 | Super proud and honored to support this amazing cause. Thanks Bill. XXOO | Ray & Dana Cruz | 10/09/2017 | $100.00 | Lisa Fox | 10/09/2017 | $25.00 | You are an amazing dad and role model to Little William!! | John Pernice | 10/09/2017 | $100.00 | william and I have developed wonderful relationship. hes got heart among his other qualities.He is a sweet boy. | Barbara Sarfaty | 10/09/2017 | $50.00 | All the best to the Isola family. | Anonymous Friend | 10/09/2017 | $50.00 | Good luck with the fundraising snd race. Regards, Howard | Laurie Edberg | 10/08/2017 | $100.00 | Molly McCarthy | 10/08/2017 | $250.00 | Best wishes to you! Love from Molly and the Boys (and Churro!) | Beth Salcedo | 10/08/2017 | $200.00 | Sandy LoPiccolo | 10/03/2017 | $50.00 | So proud to support my dear friend Meri for her #ONEINAWILLIAM campaign! My donation is in honor of William and all of the amazing kids out there, including my daughter, Maddie, who has developmental disabilities. |
| Total | $11,035.00 | ||