Anyone that has ever met my son Brenden, you instantly feel his sweet spirit and kind heart. Brenden is very special to Shanna and I and our families. He brings such a great spirit with him wherever he goes. As many of you already know Brenden was hearing impaired from birth and has been wearing hearing aids since he was 4 months old. Regardless of the correction the hearing aids made for him he continues to struggle with his communication skills. Over time we learned through our experiences and those of his teachers that Brenden perhaps had more going on than just his hearing. Earlier this year Brenden was diagnosed with Autism. Instead of seeing this as a challenge for our family, we see it has an opportunity. Not only for us to grow personally but also an opportunity to help Brenden harness his strengths and learn to use them throughout his life. I am dedicating my San Francisco marathon run to Brenden and the other millions of people diagnosed with Autism.

Organization for Autism Research
OAR is a national non-profit that provides practical information to the autism community by funding research studies whose outcomes offer new insights into the development of individuals with autism, with an emphasis on education, social life, and employment. OAR's information programs provide guidance on the best therapies and treatments for those living with autism.

I chose this organization because it does not focus on the prevention of Autism but the development of those diagnosed. I don't believe anything is wrong with my son. History has shown that a great deal of major advancements have been accomplished by those that may have been considered Autistic. And we just look forward to helping him harness those abilities.