Running for a reason - Charlottetown Guardian

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Thursday, June 22, 2006

2b9bb195.jpg

(photo)

Bain, 18, of Oyster Bed will run Prince Island from

tip-to-tip this July to raise awareness and acceptance of autism. He will

be the first autistic person to do this. Here, he's pictured with his

mother Janet Norman-Bain, who will accompany him on the trip.(GUARDIAN

PHOTO BY HEATHER TAWEEL)

Running for a reason

On July 2, Bain will set out from North Cape on a tip-to-tip Island

trek that he hopes will raise awareness of autism and fundraise $6,000.

By Caitlin McIntyre

The Guardian

Bain doesn't want to find a cure for his autism.

Rather, Bain, an 18-year-old Oyster Bed resident, says autism is not

something to be ashamed of.

On July 2, he will leave North Cape in a bid to be the first autistic

person to run the Island tip-to-tip.

But instead of running to find a cure for the disease, the focus of many

autism runs, Bain wants to raise awareness of it, says his mother, Janet

Norman-Bain. As well, he hopes to fundraise $6,000 or $20/km for the nearly

300-km trek from North Cape to East Point, to bring Dennis Debbaudt to

Prince Island this September for a series of seminars.

Debbaudt, a Florida-based professional investigator and father of a

22-year-old autistic son, educates law enforcement, medical and first

respondent personnel on how to recognize and respond to autistic persons.

Bain's mother will join him on the trip, following him on her bicycle. In a

recent interview with The Guardian, she said the public must understand

that autism doesn't have to be a devastating, life-ruining burden.

" Autism is getting a lot of bad press these days. Autism is made out to be

a horrible monster and a family-wrecking horror, but it isn't, " said

Norman-Bain, who was interviewed on behalf of her son.

This is the message she and her son hope to send as they raise autistic

awareness. Autism is a neurological disease classified as a developmental

disability.

Bain is running for a good cause, considering there are many misconceptions

and preconceptions concerning the disease, said , a member of

the P.E.I. Roadrunners Club. It's important to educate the public and help

them understand the challenges people with autism face, he said.

" He's running for autism, not against it. I think it's wonderful, " said.

Bain, who was diagnosed with autism at age three, has spent nearly every

day training for the run. An impressive athlete, he participates in a road

race most weekends as a member of the Roadrunners. In 2004, he was named

the Roadrunners' Palmer Rookie of the Year.

And although he didn't learn to speak until age six, he graduated from

Bluefield high school last year with honours, receiving top prizes in math

and English.

With his myriad of accomplishments, Bain has been an inspiration for many

in his community, his mother said. Many of his successes in life can be

attributed to his family and friends, who were never condescending towards

him, she added.

She said her son's accomplishments prove autism doesn't have to be a hindrance.

She hopes his success story will help dissolve stereotypes people may have

of autistic persons' intellectual or physical capabilities.

" Especially for parents of newly diagnosed kids or people who have yet to

have diagnosed kids, they need to know it's not a family-wrecking plague, "

Norman-Bain said. " All autistic kids will improve, and some will do

phenomenally well. "

Thus far, her website, www.planetautism.com/runman.html, promoting her

son's run has received visitors from China, Argentina Poland, Saudi Arabia,

and India. Clearly, word is spreading in the autistic community, she said.

Craswell, a longtime member of the Roadrunners Club, said Bain has a

great support system, and that will help him meet the challenges of his

tip-to-tip run.

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[Guest guest]

Good for you and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish you all the best and I hope that this does increase awareness for those who have no clue about our lives and most importantly the lives of our beloved children.

Hope StudentPineville, Louisianamsyogi@...

Running for a reason - Charlottetown Guardian

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=3003 & sc=8LIFESTYLES Lifestyles RSS FeedThursday, June 22, 2006(photo) Bain, 18, of Oyster Bed will run Prince Island from tip-to-tip this July to raise awareness and acceptance of autism. He will be the first autistic person to do this. Here, he’s pictured with his mother Janet Norman-Bain, who will accompany him on the trip.(GUARDIAN PHOTO BY HEATHER TAWEEL) Running for a reasonOn July 2, Bain will set out from North Cape on a tip-to-tip Island trek that he hopes will raise awareness of autism and fundraise $6,000. By Caitlin McIntyreThe Guardian Bain doesn’t want to find a cure for his autism.Rather, Bain, an 18-year-old Oyster Bed resident, says autism is not something to be ashamed of.On July 2, he will leave North Cape in a bid to be the first autistic person to run the Island tip-to-tip.But instead of running to find a cure for the disease, the focus of many autism runs, Bain wants to raise awareness of it, says his mother, Janet Norman-Bain. As well, he hopes to fundraise $6,000 or $20/km for the nearly 300-km trek from North Cape to East Point, to bring Dennis Debbaudt to Prince Island this September for a series of seminars.Debbaudt, a Florida-based professional investigator and father of a 22-year-old autistic son, educates law enforcement, medical and first respondent personnel on how to recognize and respond to autistic persons.Bain’s mother will join him on the trip, following him on her bicycle. In a recent interview with The Guardian, she said the public must understand that autism doesn’t have to be a devastating, life-ruining burden.“Autism is getting a lot of bad press these days. Autism is made out to be a horrible monster and a family-wrecking horror, but it isn’t,” said Norman-Bain, who was interviewed on behalf of her son.This is the message she and her son hope to send as they raise autistic awareness. Autism is a neurological disease classified as a developmental disability.Bain is running for a good cause, considering there are many misconceptions and preconceptions concerning the disease, said , a member of the P.E.I. Roadrunners Club. It’s important to educate the public and help them understand the challenges people with autism face, he said.“He’s running for autism, not against it. I think it’s wonderful,” said.Bain, who was diagnosed with autism at age three, has spent nearly every day training for the run. An impressive athlete, he participates in a road race most weekends as a member of the Roadrunners. In 2004, he was named the Roadrunners’ Palmer Rookie of the Year.And although he didn’t learn to speak until age six, he graduated from Bluefield high school last year with honours, receiving top prizes in math and English.With his myriad of accomplishments, Bain has been an inspiration for many in his community, his mother said. Many of his successes in life can be attributed to his family and friends, who were never condescending towards him, she added.She said her son’s accomplishments prove autism doesn’t have to be a hindrance.She hopes his success story will help dissolve stereotypes people may have of autistic persons’ intellectual or physical capabilities.“Especially for parents of newly diagnosed kids or people who have yet to have diagnosed kids, they need to know it’s not a family-wrecking plague,” Norman-Bain said. “All autistic kids will improve, and some will do phenomenally well.”Thus far, her website, www.planetautism.com/runman.html, promoting her son’s run has received visitors from China, Argentina Poland, Saudi Arabia, and India. Clearly, word is spreading in the autistic community, she said. Craswell, a longtime member of the Roadrunners Club, said Bain has a great support system, and that will help him meet the challenges of his tip-to-tip run.________________________________

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