News and Knowledge

Four years ago OAR alum, Dave Eschenbach was considering running his first half marathon.  A friend suggested looking into running for a charity organization.  The idea of raising money for a cause while getting your race entry paid for seemed appealing to Dave.  With the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in mind, Dave searched their website for charity organizations and found OAR.  Four years later Dave is still running for OAR on the RUN FOR AUTISM team for his son, Ray, who was diagnosed with autism in 2008.

When Ray was diagnosed Dave said he and his family “were blessed and lucky to have some friends who worked with different organizations to guide us through some of the processes and get in contact with some great organizations to assist us with understanding what we needed to do to help Ray.  I know that most families aren’t that lucky and have to sift through the information alone while seeking help for their loved ones.”  Finding OAR and running on the RUN FOR AUTISM team has been a way for Dave to help spread autism awareness and assist other families find a great organization like OAR.  

On May 5^th Dave will tackle the Pittsburgh Half Marathon for the fourth year in a row on the RUN FOR AUTISM team.  We’re excited to celebrate with Dave and his wonderful family who wait for him at the OAR charity tent after he crosses the finish line to receive the OAR finisher medal.  Some runners hang their race medals up on a wall, some use them as Christmas ornaments, but Dave uses his hard earned OAR medal as a lanyard at work.  An amazing reminder everyday of running and helping fund autism research to help his son Ray and others on the spectrum.  “I get asked a lot what the medal is about and why I wear it.  I let them know that I run the half marathon to raise awareness for autism along with raising money for OAR.  I have been told thank you many times from people that I did not previously know because they have a child or loved one who is autistic.  They always smile and that just makes me feel happy.” 

We asked Dave what being part of the RUN FOR AUTISM team has meant to him and his answer was sincere.  “The Run for Autism team has been a great experience and gives me another reason other than my health to keep active throughout the year.  The joy of running and helping others is something that my son, Ray, and daughter, Madi, have both taken up.”  Dave told us that Ray and Madi have discussed with him possibly running the Pittsburgh Marathon Relay as a team for OAR in the future.  We couldn’t be more thrilled at the idea!