$585,000 and counting - Thank you!
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You Did it Ontario!
$585,000 and counting - Thank you!
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Do you have photos to share? Send them to us via CD to Autism Speaks Canada 504-1243 Islington Avenue, Toronto, ON M8X 1Y9. Thanks!
The fund raising did not end on Sunday! Please continue to reach out to your friends, family, colleagues. Let them know what an awesome time you had at the Walk and ask for their support of your Walk Team.
YOU DID IT ONTARIO!!
The threat of stormy skies and significant highway closures did not, for one second, hold back the passionate of the Ontario autism community on Sunday, June 7 at the 5th Annual Ontario Walk Now for Autism - the largest autism group hug in Canadian history.
Autism Speaks Canada Board member Steven Wise challenged popular morning radio DJ from Q107, John Derringer to $1/step to complete the walk route. He did it and secured an additional $10,000. Unity for Autism Foundation made a surprise pledge of $20,000 to the event helping to boost walk day totals to $585,000 and counting!
Special guest speaker Gold Medalist in the Turino Paralympic Games, Paul Rosen, brought a message of hope and never giving up to the crowd. Tweens and teenagers were all a-flutter to meet Daniel Magder, star of hit TV show, Life With Derek. Mapleview High School Drum band from Scarborough - a school for kids with all kinds of special needs including autism wowed the crowd with their energy and percussion prowress! John Mitchell of the Toronto Maple Leafs signed autographs for Grand Club members and provided a signed customized Leafs Jersey with AUTISM listed on the back that was auctioned off for $5000 to a silent bidder. Jonathan Howard, who last year ran across Canada in 199 days to raise money and awareness for research, led walkers off on the 3 km route followed by top fundraisers Paula Stamp and Josh Bortolotti who acted as official flag bearers to the Walk procession. Canadian researchers Dr. Steven Scherer, who sits on Autism Speaks Scientific Advisory Council and is the Director of the Centre for Applied Genomics at Sick Kids Hospital along with Dr. Wendy Roberts, co-Principal Investigator for Toronto-Autism Treatment Network site spoke on behalf of the many researchers in attendance and thanked the walkers for supporting their work in Canada.
A moment of silence was observed in memory of Mason MacPhail, a local 16 year old who died tragically on May 26. Mason had Aspergers. Autism Speaks Canada office volunteer, 19-year old Carl Jaglall, who lives with autism every day, inspired the crowd during closing ceremonies with his personal story of overcoming difficulties with the love and support of his mother. Antonella Vizzini, mom to Dante of Dantes Dream Team, lent her beautiful voice to us in singing the national anthem and When You Wish Upon A Star.
Perhaps the most telling moment of the day was when a family who had just received the diagnosis of autism for their daughter that very week were at the Starbucks across the street from the City Hall. They saw the crowds and inflatables and came over to find out what was going on - only to find out that it was a walk in support of the autism community. They walked with their 2 year old daughter and 8 week old son, and returned to the square and with tears rolling down their faces and proudly wearing Walk Ts, saying that they knew they were no longer alone. That, my friends, is what it is all about!
Congratulations and thank you to our incredible Walk Volunteers, led by Co-Chairs Scott Chataway, Jyoti Sanwalka and Gideon Sheps.
It will take 4-6 weeks to process all donations handed in on walk day so you can expect to see your individual and team totals go up in that time period. We will begin to issue charitable tax receipts in next 7 days. Stay tuned for information on our Walk Awards event and special events to come!
Many thanks to our Special Walk Guests:
Paul Rosen - Gold Medal Paralympic Athlete
John Mitchell Q107's John Derringer Daniel Magder Jonathan Howard
"Edwin" from hit TV show "Run the Dream"
Life With Derek
ALSO: Dr. Stephen Scherer, Dr. Wendy Roberts, and other Canadian Researchers!
The Honourable Deb Matthews, The Honourable Kathleen Wynne.
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ONTARIO GRAND CLUB MEMBERS |
Congratulations and thanks to our Grand Club Members!
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Paula Stamp, Team CJ |
Anthony Soda, Go for Soda |