Sunday, March 30, 2008 | Start Time: 9:30 am | Chicago, IL

Kick off the running season with the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K, or enjoy a morning of fun and exercise at the 5K Fitness Walk. Both events start and finish in Chicago's Grant Park. If you want to be part of the 2008 RUN FOR AUTISM — Chicago Team, sign up today.

By joining the RUN FOR AUTISM Team, you are choosing to be a part of a group of committed individuals dedicated to participating in events to raise funds for autism research.

Why Run for Autism?

• Raise money for autism research - More than $.87 of every dollar you raise will directly fund research studies that help answer some of autism’s most pressing questions.
• Whether you are a runner, walker, donor or volunteer, your contribution makes you part of OAR’s RUN FOR AUTISM team.
• In the end, you will have made a difference in the lives of thousands of families living with autism.

Autism is:

• a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact socially. There is no known cure, and it remains a lifelong challenge.
• more prevalent than Down Syndrome, childhood diabetes and childhood cancer combined
• estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 150 births and affect 1.7 million children and adults in the U.S. today

Research, like OAR-sponsored studies, is needed to find answers and provide practical solutions for those with autism today.

RUN FOR AUTISM Team Member Benefits:

• RUN FOR AUTISM t-shirt and race shirt
• Training Program with DCFit, USAFit, and CARA
• RUN FOR AUTISM Fundraising Guide
• A personal fundraising web page

Fundraising:

OAR has no minimum fundraising requirement until the official race registration closes. OAR believes in a "Set Your Own Goal" fundraising philosophy. OAR's goals for 2008 are to have 1,000 marathon runners and raise more than $1,000,000. OAR's runners have historically averaged raising between $1,500 and $2,000. Runners who raise $2,500 or more receive special recognition at the Runners' Recognition Dinner held the evening before the marathon.

Registration

To join our team in the Shamrock Shuffle, please visit: www.firstgiving.com/oar

For more information about the Chicago Marathon, please visit their Web site at http://www.shamrockshuffle.com or contact OAR.