The annual Stomp the Swamp for Autism will take place Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Hosted again this year by UF’s first lady, Chris Machen, the fitness event raises money for UF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities and awareness for autism itself.
Autism affects a person’s behavior and his or her ability to communicate and relate socially with others.
This year, in addition to participants running and walking the stadium steps and inner track, there will be a new obstacle race for kids, said Ashley Giddings, president of Impact Autism, a UF student organization and nonprofit under the center. Impact Autism has been working with the center to put on the event.
“In the past, kids have been welcome to participate ... but this is just our effort to get even more kids, both with and without autism or any type of special needs,” Giddings said.
Participants can pre-register for $15 online at card.ufl.edu/sts/ or pay $20 at the event. It starts at 10 a.m.
One out of 88 babies born today will have autism, said Gregory Valcante, director of UF’s Gainesville Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.
Valcante said the event brought together about 40 people and raised about $2,000 in its first year. Last year, about five times that number of people participated, and about $7,000 was raised.
“I think we are having a positive impact,” Valcante said.
