After being cancelled in April, shortly after the beginning of COVID-19, Prince George’s ninth annual Autism Awareness Walk will take place throughout October, which is also Autism Awareness month.
Matija Tiani, is a local resident and athlete, who is no stranger to running long distances and she’s now preparing to do so in a month-long fundraising effort for the Northern Interior Autism Society (NIAS) throughout October.
The annual event was supposed to take place on April 25, but as with many local fundraising traditions, it was cancelled due to the pandemic and no funds were coming in for financial aid.
“This was supposed to be our ninth annual walk this year and it was so disappointing when it was cancelled. We were getting close to around 300 to five hundred people in attendance for the annual walk,” said Jamie Rivard, one of the four directors of the society.
“I am so thankful that we are doing something it broke my heart that we couldn't do anything in the springtime.”
The society is now dedicating October to a month-long Autism Awareness Walk, encouraging community members to head outside and walk with a blue balloon to show their support using the hashtag #ActiveforAutism.
“We as a board typically plan this walk for six months beforehand so to have this come together so quickly and so well in such a short period of time is overwhelming,” adds Rivard.
Five Prince George companies have stepped up to help NIAS during an unprecedented year that saw their fundraising dollars come to a halt.
Canadian Western Bank, Rivers Edge Services, North Side Auto Sales, Certified Labs and the Brink Group of Companies will all donate $1 for every kilometre Tiani runs throughout the month of October to the NIAS.
“We are thankful to these five companies that are a testament to what Prince George is all about and that is supporting great initiatives, supporting great people and supporting everything that happens in our community,” said Scott McWalter, who works for Brink Group of Companies and helped organize the October event.
“It such an amazing organization. When we found out there was not going to be a walk we said we have to make it happen,” added Brink Group of Companies’ founder John Brink.
“We are going to make it a very, very successful event.”
Tiani is also not only an experienced marathon runner, but has spent 10 years working with autistic children so was third to jump on board for the month-long fundraiser.
“I have gained so much unconditional love and trust over the years working alongside and supporting children with autism. Being able to give back through my passion of running is as gratifying as the finish line of a marathon.”
She says her goal is to run 10 km every day for six days a week and only taking a break on Sunday.
The goal for the month-long autism awareness walk throughout October is to raise $5,000 for the NIAS, a figure that will make up for their fundraising event being cancelled this past April.
Not only can the community support the cause by walking and using the #ActiveforAutism hashtag, but the public can also easily donate through a GoFundMe account where donations of any size can be provided.
“The community is still here even though we can’t be here together this year,” said Rivard, who also and encouraged parents to continue reaching out to the society for support.
“It’s a hard time to go through when your child gets diagnosed with a disability.”
