I just wanted to keep you updated on the walk team(s) for the autism walk(s). I have a team formed for both the Western New England walk (Springfield) and the Orlando walk. The walk at Stanley Park in Westfield will be on September 13. The walk at Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World in Orlando will be on November 15. I have received news that some of you have joined the WNE team and I want to thank you. Also, I have received a few donations all ready (thank you Suzanne Wright and Linda Ostiguy) and they have been split up between the two events. If you would like to join my walk team (Mike's PALS), please go to walknowforautism.org and click on the Western New England walk then click on search a team and you'll see my name as a team captain. I hope that we can get a great turnout for the team. This walk is for a great cause.  I do suffer from autism and look at all of the accomplishments that I have achieved throughout my life, from being on student council to As Schools Match Wits team to even doing the Disney College Program this fall! I understand that I will be in Florida when the WNE walk occurs, but I still wanted to form a team because I know that my friends and family would support me and my cause. I am hoping to do the walk on November 15 in Orlando, but that depends on my work schedule for that day. I do want to find a cure for autism so that people like me or future children in the world do not have to worry about autism. It's a long journey to find a cure, but with your help by joining my walk team or donating for the cause will help it out.

Here's a tidbit that you might not know about autism: Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in 1 in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

I would like to thank Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 of the North American Family Campers Association (PV8 of NAFCA) for choosing Autism Speaks (the walk's charity) as the national charity for this year. For those of you that might not know, PV8 selects a local and a national charity every year to donate $1000/each. It happens that I put my charity in this year, Autism Speaks. With a little luck and thanks to God, my charity was selected as the national charity. I would also like to thank Don & Jody Ulasewich from PV8 for putting the Fall Safari on September 5-7, instead of September 12-14, so that I could try to get PV8 members to come and walk for the team!

If you would like to join my team or donate and you are having problems reaching the website, please contact me by e-mail at mikedimauro31784@... or phone at (413) 478-2738.

I will be leaving for Florida on August 7 or 8 (depending what my mood is and which route I choose, most likely if I drive the route, I will drive through the Applachains on I-81 to get to Florida, to avoid I-95 through NYC, Baltimore and Washington, though my mom made a suggestion for me to take the autotrain and I still have to think about that with them). I will still run the WNE team from Florida, if you have any problems or questions.

Thank You,
Mike DiMauro