The third annual Go the Distance for Autism Bike Event will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey. The event is a collaborative effort by four northern New Jersey schools for learners with autism – Alpine Learning Group in Paramus, The EPIC School in Paramus, Garden Academy in Maplewood and REED Academy in Oakland. Mybergen.com has returned as a sponsor of this major Bergen County fundraiser for the third consecutive year.
In the past two years, participants have ridden over 21,000 miles and raised more than $900,000 in support of this event. All funds raised from this event will benefit the four schools.
Go the Distance for Autism has announced that Senator Robert Menendez is Chair of the 2012 event. “I am proud to be part of Go the Distance for Autism. This is great opportunity to join forces with parents and professionals to raise awareness about the needs and challenges faced by children and adults with autism. I am proud to have championed the passage of Combating Autism Reauthorization Act last September, which is vital to ensuring that research programs continue finding breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, and that training and intervention programs continue providing families the tools they need to better understand and manage autism.”
This year’s event includes rides for cyclists of all levels. The 50 and 25 mile rides begin at 8:30am and 10:00am respectively, the Kids Ride begins at 10:00 am, the 10 mile ride begins at 11:00 am and the Family Ride starts at 11:30 am. Bike route maps and a full description of the event are available at www.gtd4autism.org. The event is open to the public and riders can register individually or as a team at www.gtd4autism.org.
All registered riders receive entrance to the Family Fun area which includes food and beverage, entertainment, bounce houses, games and a Community Pavilion featuring local businesses and non-profit agencies.
A host of local businesses are sponsoring Go the Distance for Autism. To date, TD Bank and Ramsey Auto Group are the premier event sponsors joined by Kearney Federal Savings Bank, Columbia Bank, Cullari, Carrico, Soojian, Burke, LLC, Drive for Rebecca, Hackensack Digestive Disease Associates and Resnick Capital Markets as Platinum Sponsors. Diamond Sponsors include Comengo Law Group, Joseph De Vita, Inc., Heller Capital Partners, Hinkle Fingles Prior, Infusion, Kindersmiles, Lapatka Associates, Mayerson and Associates, Pashman Stein, Prestige BMW, Strategic Employee Benefit Services, and Willis Insurance. Media Sponsors are mybergen.com, 201 and Bergen.com. Cycling support is being provided by Pedal Sports of Oakland and Ridgewood Cycle Shop.
Alpine Learning Group, The EPIC School, Garden Academy and REED Academy are non-profit schools located in northern NJ that provide educational and behavioral services to learners with autism. Autism is a neurobiologically-based developmental disability that emerges during a child’s first three years of life. Children with autism display marked impairments in communication and social skills as well as a restricted range of interests and behavior. Autism affects approximately 1 in 110 individuals nationwide each year. In New Jersey, this figure increases to 1 in 94. For more information about the event, visit www.gtd4autism.org; for more information on the schools, visit www.alpinelearninggroup.org – www.epicschool.org – www.gardenacademy.org and www.reedacademy.org.
Go the Distance for Autism Pre-Event Video:
