Autism walk raises money, hopes

BURLINGTON — They came as families, as co-workers, and as parents. More than 400 people braved a chilly and rainy Sunday afternoon in Burlington to be part of the first annual walk to raise money for autism research on Oct 1.

For the Sullivans of South Burlington, whose son Brendan, 10, has Asperger’s Syndrome (a high-functioning form of the disorder), the walk was a way to meet up with other families and support workers, while raising money for a good cause.

“I think a lot of what can come out of today is awareness,” said Sean Sullivan.

The Mulherons drove down to Burlington from Highgate with their son, Kristofer, who is 13 and has autism. “This is a great event for him to be able to be in a group setting that is safe,” said Steven Mulheron, sporting a “Team Wonder Boy” shirt. Many families donned team shirts, usually with the name and picture of the child they were walking to support.

Kristofer is now receiving some life skills training in school, but he is the only kid in his class, and the Mulherons are only aware of a few other families in their part of the state who have children with autism.

Also at the walk were 20 students from the Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, NH, a boarding school for boys in sixth through ninth grades.
“This is a way for me to show I care about the community,” said Dylan Corcoran. “A recent speaker at our school encouraged us to do something bigger than yourself, so I chose this walk.”

The school encourages students to take on community service projects each week.

The money raised from the walk — nearly $35,000 at last count — will go to Autism Speaks, a national nonprofit dedicated to funding biomedical research into the prevention, causes, treatments, and cure for autism. Twenty years ago, one in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism. That number is one in 166 today, according to walk organizers.

The walk, which was organized by four mothers of children with autism, also featured Barbara Protopapa, a high-functioning autistic adult who talked about her neglect within the public school system. She was labeled “mentally retarded” and isolated from the mainstream population and not offered special services.

Despite the strikes against her, Protopapa said she was able to teach herself to read after she left high school, got her driver’s license, and an apartment of her own by the time she was 19. “My parents were told repeatedly that I should be institutionalized,” she said.

Vermont businesses face off in “extreme” Bocce tournament

SHELBURNE — The Vermont Teddy Bear Company’s expansive grounds will be transformed into a heated battleground as four Vermont businesses face off in an “Extreme” Bocce Ball tournament that benefits the United Way of Chittenden County.

Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Gardener’s Supply, Hampton Direct and Small Dog Electronics will square off at 2 p.m. Friday in a cross-corporate Bocce Ball tournament. Each company will send their best two or three teams, as decided in company-wide preliminary tournaments held this summer, to compete for the honor of donating money raised by the bocce teams to the United Way.

"We take Bocce very seriously,” said Vermont Teddy Bear Company’s three-time Bocce champion Andrew “Rooster” Robinson of the “DeBoccery” team. “We have the same attitude for our United Way campaign, so playing bocce for donation funds will make this year’s tournament twice as competitive. We’d really like to surpass last year’s campaign donation of $11,000, and winning this bocce tournament could definitely help Vermont Teddy Bear reach that goal.”

Bocce Ball involves two teams, each trying to place softball-sized balls closer than the other’s to the small white target ball, the “pallina” or “pallino.” The game dates back to the Roman era in the Italian Alps and spread throughout Europe by Roman soldiers.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co.’s lawn lends itself well to extreme Bocce Ball as it features divots, hills, trees and even games played off the building walls, making this no average Bocce tournament.

As a new element to this annual tournament, employees from The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Small Dog Electronics, Hampton Direct and Gardener’s Supply have pledged money to the bocce finalists which will be donated by the winning Company team to the United Way. This time of year many businesses around Chittenden County hold an annual campaign for the United Way, including The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. and Gardener’s Supply. Additionally, Hampton Direct raised over $5,000 for the United Way at the first annual Hampton Direct Garage Sale in June. Bocce teams are hoping to raise about $500 in total, and with Company matches that donation may double.

"The Small Dog employees and I are really excited about the potential to raise money for a charitable cause, create an opportunity for Vermont businesses to work together, and have a little fun as well,” says Hapy Mayer of Small Dog Electronics. “I look forward to growing this tournament to include lots more Vermont companies in the future."

For more information or Bocce rules contact VTB Bocce Commissioner Courtney Griesser at 1-800-829-BEAR or log onto www.VermontTeddyBear.com for directions to the factory.

Posted October 5, 2006

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