News and Knowledge

“My brother’s name is Henry. He’s 18. We are very close. He’s lots of fun to spend time with because he is so child-like. He’s very inquisitive, witty, and possesses a lot of energy which radiates on to everyone around him.” When Monica Punjabi, 24, describes Henry, who as a young child was diagnosed to be at the more severe end of the autism spectrum, she is describing the reason she runs.

Punjabi, who lives with her parents and Henry in Boston, Mass., is new to the RUN FOR AUTISM, having recently completed her first run, a half marathon in New York City on March 20. Through that one effort, she raised more than $3,500 for OAR.

Like many other RUN FOR AUTISM team members, Punjabi came to OAR because she wanted to get fit. “I was pretty active in college but after I graduated and started working in finance, I was sitting at a desk all day. I needed a way to stay in shape, so I began training for a half marathon.” She chose the New York City Half Marathon, only to be told there were no registrations left.

She turned to the charity list and soon found OAR. “I looked at the Web site and read the newsletter. It seemed like a wonderful organization. Autism awareness is a cause I’ve always felt strongly about, and running for OAR felt like a great way to contribute to it.”

When she found OAR, she not only found a great cause, she also found a great resource. She has passed on OAR’s Web site to her mom and dad for their information. “The information is relevant to what we want and need to know. OAR does a great job of connecting families going through the same experiences and educating us on developments in the autism community. My mom and dad are dedicated to Henry’s wellbeing and are always seeking out ways to learn more about how they can help him. Henry has brought us closer together and taught us important virtues, such as perseverance.”

While her brother stays active and busy, his diagnosis means he cannot read or write, suffers from anxiety and depression, and needs full-time care, which “our mother selflessly provides,” Punjabi says. That doesn’t mean Henry doesn’t live a full life, Punjabi points out, going to a special needs school, participating in an Arc program, volunteering at local church, and being involved in the community as well. His parents, sister, and a wider family circle as well as friends provide him with an active social life.

In fact, Punjabi’s run for autism turned into a family affair. “My parents, three of my cousins, a couple of friends, and Henry all came to cheer me on and see me finish. Henry was super excited.” One reason to run, a lot of people educated about autism, and thousands of dollars raised for autism. That’s a great way to add up numbers.

Want to join the RUN FOR AUTISM team?  Visit http://www.researchautism.org/news/run/index.asp.