Running for Autism: Our London Marathon Journey
What do you get when you combine 26.2 miles, two really nice runners, and a fantastic cause? The answer: Me (Brandon Cornellier) and my best buddy Brian Giaqiunta* running the London Marathon this April 27th! (yes, that's a link to his LinkedIn - he's very impressive, and I'm proud of him.)
I'm incredibly excited (and nervous) to share that we'll be running one of the world's five major marathons to support the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). This isn't just any race for us—it's a chance to make a real difference in the lives of individuals with autism and their families while also doing something so physically challenging, I didn't think was possible just a few months ago.
Why OAR?
They're doing amazing work advancing research and education for autism, helping families and individuals access the resources and support they need. The best part? Every single dollar you donate goes directly to OAR's programs – not to our running shoes or post-race ice packs (those are on us!).
How Your Donation Helps
Here's what your donation can actually do:
$10 provides a Curriculum in a Box professional development set to general education teachers
$25 equips 15 families and first responders with essential Safety Guides
$100 supplies an entire elementary or middle school with the Kit for Kids peer education resource
$150 delivers 100 Life Journey through Autism guidebooks to community support groups or military installations
$1,000 funds a research grant for a graduate student studying autism
$3,000 provides a life-changing college scholarship for a student with autism
Brian and I (aka "Two Nice Lads") are on a mission to raise $20,000, and we're just about halfway there! Together, we could fund multiple research grants, provide hundreds of resource kits, or even help a student with autism pursue their college dreams. Every dollar brings us closer to our fundraising goal and OAR's mission of improving lives through autism research and education.
How to Support Us
You can donate directly to my page: Really Cool Donation Page w/ Picture of Penny
*Or our Team Page: Also a Pretty Cool Donation Page with One Less Picture of Penny
*Both go to the same place – I don't even know why I gave the option.
And hey, if you can't contribute financially, we'd love your moral support! Share our fundraising page, send us encouraging messages, or just promise not to laugh at our pain.
Thank you for considering being part of this journey. Together, we can make a real difference for the autism community – one mile (and one dollar) at a time!
