In 2025, RUN team members from around the world represented OAR at 30 events, from international marathons to our very own Active for Autism 5K and Kids Dash. The RUN team of nearly 1,200 runners joined forces to raise over $1.25 million. Their fundraising efforts helped OAR fund new applied autism research, including eight new studies funded through the…
This year, nearly 1200 athletes took on a RUN FOR AUTISM event to support autism research. We’re incredibly proud of all of our athletes, and want to recognize a few outstanding individuals and teams with our first-annual RUN FOR AUTISM awards. The Standing Ovation Award: This award is presented annually to the highest fundraising individual with RUN FOR AUTISM, in…
This January, nearly 100 RUN FOR AUTISM team members will take on a race at the 2026 Walt Disney World ® Marathon Weekend presented by State Farm in Orlando, Florida. This marathon weekend is the 2026 RUN FOR AUTISM featured event, with staff presence to cheer on our amazing team of runners. The weekend features four races, ranging from a 5K to a marathon,…
Janel Miles’s motivation for taking on the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon this fall with the RUN FOR AUTISM team was crystal clear. “I’m running to raise awareness and funds for everyone like my son, Maxton, who deserves to live in a world filled with acceptance, inclusion, and kindness.” Maxton, now a middle schooler,…
Last weekend, 111 RUN FOR AUTISM athletes put their nine months of training to the test as they ran the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of New York City. They were part of the over 55,000 marathon runners taking part in the event, cheered on by over two million spectators.…
Toni is incredibly proud of her 6-year-old nephew, David. “Anyone that meets David instantly falls in love with his creative, gentle, and uplifting personality,” she said. Toni is part of the RUN FOR AUTISM team at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, running for David, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 18…
This October, friends Natalie and Corina laced up their running shoes for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as part of the RUN FOR AUTISM team. The duo comprises team Baby Bat, named for Natalie’s daughter, Amaranta, who was affectionately nicknamed “Baby Bat” by Corina. Natalie and Corina wanted to run for a cause…
Working with neurodivergent individuals has always been a key part of Jojo Levey’s life, as a tutor, family member, and now runner for the Organization for Autism Research. This fall, she’s racing the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, her second marathon with the RUN FOR AUTISM program. She chose OAR as her charity for…
When I joined the RUN FOR AUTISM team for the 2023 Bank of America Chicago marathon, I did not expect to be able to raise nearly $4,000 in less than three weeks, exceeding my initial fundraising goal by $2,500. This was only made possible by sharing my fundraising page with friends and family members and sharing…
My journey with OAR’s RUN FOR AUTISM program started in 2022. I had signed up for the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to fundraise for a charity since I had missed getting an entry through the lottery. After some research, I discovered the amazing RUN FOR AUTISM community! Of course, there were dozens of…
