Sun, Sep 07, 2008

Tucson Region

Autism Society holds Sat. fundraiser

By Jamar Younger
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.13.2007
The Pima County chapter of the Autism Society of America and will gather at Reid Park from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday to raise money and educate the public about the disorder.
The chapter will join A Place to Call Home, a local foster-care and adoption agency, to sponsor the Piece the Puzzle Autism Walk, Run and Resource Fair.
The events will raise money for the Pima County chapter of the autism society and the Tucson Alliance for Autism Center, said Peter Earhart, president of the autism society's Pima County chapter.
This is the first time the walk has been held in Tucson.
Up to 30 exhibitors will be on hand at the fair. State Rep. Linda Lopez will be there to start the run, he said.
"We're getting support from a broad range of people in the community," Earhart said.
According to the Autism Society of America's Web site, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It affects development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.
Donations will be collected at the event, or people can mail them to ASA-PCC P.O. Box 44156, Tucson, AZ 85733.
● Contact reporter Jamar Younger at 434-4076 or jyounger@azstarnet.com.