A UF club is running stadiums to support those with autism.
Impact Autism at UF will host its eighth Stomp the Swamp fundraiser Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. About 500 students and community members are expected to attend to raise $10,000. Last year they raised $9,000.
The event benefits UF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. The proceeds will go toward the center’s safety program, which provides safety boxes to families of those with autism. The boxes include identification tags and door alarms, said Michael Lattanzi, the president of Impact Autism at UF.
“Unfortunately, you will often hear on the news about a child with autism who wandered off and then drowned or got lost,” the 21-year-old said. “UF CARD is really trying to push safety education and provide boxes so parents are better equipped to keep their children out of harm’s way.”
To raise the $10,000, teams and individual students donate during registration to run stadiums, Lattanzi said. A football jersey autographed by Tim Tebow and a basketball autographed by Mike White, the UF men’s basketball coach, will be auctioned.
Alison Kannal, a UF elementary education junior, said she is looking forward informing people about autism while running.
“My hope is for Stomp the Swamp to challenge me as an athlete and encourage me to push myself for a great cause,” the 20-year-old said. “We are a Gator family that supports one another, and I can’t wait to see all of the rowdy reptiles in The Swamp.”
Rima Chakhtoura said as a UF early childhood education senior, she hopes the community learns more about those with disabilities, as she has in her major.
“Our program has a focus on students with disabilities, so I consider all events that give attention to students with disabilities to be dear to me,” the 20-year-old said.
