Youngwood race draws more runners this year to support those on autism spectrum

Sep. 4—Tammi Morton of Freedom, Beaver County, completed Monday's Run For Autism 5K race in just under 45 minutes.

Then she took her place at the finish line in Youngwood, handing out medals to all those who completed the event's longer half marathon course.

Morton was among those present who had an added stake in the race. She is the director of operations for the event's beneficiary: Autism Connection of Pennsylvania — an affiliate of Achieva, a regional nonprofit that offers support to those with disabilities and their families.

Morton also has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum, as has her daughter, now 18.

"I volunteered for the past four years," Morton said of the race event. "I wanted to do at least one formal race and raise money for the cause. It has a huge impact.

"When my daughter was first diagnosed, I had no idea where to go and who to talk to. All the early intervention people said to contact the Autism Connection, and it's been my go-to since then."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates one in 36 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. That has increased from a prevalence of one in 150 in 2000.

"The spectrum is broad," Morton said. She noted it can range from someone having difficulty with social cues and communication to more severe issues that can include a lack of verbal ability and difficulty connecting to the surrounding world.

An autism spectrum diagnosis hasn't stopped Ian O'Neill, 22, of Unity from pursuing his goals as a runner.

He was rooted on by his mother, Jamie, as he finished the Run For Autism Labor Day Half Marathon Monday with a time of just over 2 hours and 19 minutes.

"A couple years back he did the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, and he's done some of the local 5K races," Jamie O'Neill said. "We did the (Greensburg) YMCA Turkey Trot last year.

"I'm just here for support today. I can't do 13 miles."

Crossing the finish line at about the same time as Ian O'Neill was Demetra Czegan, 43, of Southwest Greensburg.

"This is the fourth time I've done this race," she said. "I think I've done all three versions," which includes a 10K option.

"It's for a nice cause, and the people are always friendly," she said, noting she wasn't aiming to set a specific pace as temperatures reached the high 80s. "I just wanted to finish today. I knew it was going to be hot."

In October, she's planning to run the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon in Butler County.

Monday's race drew close to 180 participants, up from 111 the previous year, according to event presenter the Gingerbread Man Running Co. That increased the money the race has generated to date for the Autism Connection from more than $28,000 to about $35,000.

Morton noted those funds help support the organization's services and activities, including newsletters for families affected by autism, related workshops and support groups and efforts to connect families with services offered by other agencies.

Like Morton, others involved with the Autism Connection also have personal experience with the disorder, a background that is invaluable in providing help for those whose lives have been touched by it.

"We field up to 280 calls per month," Morton said.

With children heading back to school, she said, "We're getting a lot of calls about teenagers and after-school programs. We're also getting lot of calls from adults who think they're on the autism spectrum but need to be screened."

As in past years, the Youngwood Volunteer Fire Department provided parking for the Run For Autism and space for related vendors and informational booths.

Becky Reynolds, who lives on a Youngwood-area farm, joined the vendor area with two baby animals: Sophia, a Nigerian dwarf goat, and Daisy, a pit bull-beagle, she is fostering for the Irwin-based People's Animal Care and Control pet adoption organization.

Through her Funny Farm Friends outreach, Reynolds brings animals to school and community events, underlining how the furry companions can offer "a connection of communication and anxiety reduction for those who are differently abled."

Reynolds is a school nurse at Allegheny County's Private Pace School, which provides education to students with severe disabilities. She also has a son, Alex Pekar, 24, who is on the autism spectrum.

Now doing well in a staff-supported home, Pekar previously relied on a service dog to be able to take part in public outings, his mother said.

She said her son "would bolt. He would just take off, and his dog was trained to find him. Eventually, (the dog) was able to predict that he was going to take off before he did."

In addition to raising money for autism support, Youngwood race participants had the option of making separate donations to the fire department. Over the years, the runners have contributed more than $1,700 to the firefighters.

Visit autismofpa.org for more information about the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .