More than $2,000 was raised to help local charities for children living with autism at a grassroots event praised by area politicians on Sunday.
The $2,500 raised by the Trees for Children event will be split evenly between Friends for Autism and A Dog for Drew.
The second-annual event, held at Maplehurst Manor in Maitland on Sunday afternoon, attracted a number of local politicians who spoke about the importance of raising awareness of autism.
You always have to look at the world through the eyes of a child, and that includes an autistic child, said Liberal senator Jim Munson, who represents Ottawa-Rideau Canal.
Lisa MacLeod, a leadership candidate for the provincial Progressive Conservative Party, also delivered remarks at the event. She spoke about the need to bring awareness to autism, which she called an important public policy issue.
These are real struggles with real families and we need to lend our support, she said.
Families affected by autism also spoke. An Etobicoke mother, Dee Gordon, will be walking from her Greater Toronto Area home to Ottawa in the new year to raise awareness and funds for autism. Gordons 12-year-old son, Jacob, suffers from autism and she mentioned the troubles she has had getting him adjusted to school and the need for more resources for autism. He has attended 13 schools in his lifetime.
We should not have to fight for early diagnosis and treatment. We should not have to beg for money to pay for treatment for our children and we should not have to live in poverty to ensure our childs well-being, she said, garnering applause from the audience.
Local mother Laura Wright also highlighted some struggles on Sunday. Wright is the mother of nine-year-old Andrew, who suffers from Aspergers Syndome and needs an $18,000 service dog. Community fundraising under the moniker A Dog for Drew has been underway for several months.
Wright spoke about how she was seen as a bad or inept mom for her sons behavioural issues while she was working on getting a diagnosis for him.
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Autism awareness unwrapped