Step Up for Autism celebration takes place September 29

Everyone is invited to show their support for people on the autism spectrum when The Resource Center hosts the ninth annual Step Up for Autism celebration on Saturday, September 29.

Step Up for Autism takes place at The Resource Center’s administrative office building at 200 Dunham Avenue in Celoron. The event is being coordinated by TRC and Filling the Gap, Inc., with support from village officials and family members of people with autism.

Activities include a 1.5-mile walk in which participants will make their way to Lucille Ball Memorial Park on the shore of Chautauqua Lake, then return to The Resource Center for a hot dog lunch. There also will be games, activities for adults and children (including face painting, a fire truck and bounce houses), a Chinese auction, and a sweets auction featuring cakes and other goodies donated by area businesses.

Registration and check-in for the walk begin at 9:00, with the walk scheduled to start at about 10:30. The sweets auction and drawing of auction prizes will begin at around noon. The entire event should be finished by 1:00.

Businesses, school groups and others are encouraged to put together walking teams of family members, friends and co-workers. Those planning to participate can create a fund-raising web page by visiting www.crowdrise.com/filling-the-gap-inc. People can set up their own individual fund-raising page, or they can create a team page that team members can promote to solicit donations.

This year’s logo was created by Justin Long.

The entry fee is $20 per person, but people are welcome to take part in the walk without paying the fee. Those paying the registration fee will receive a 2018 Step Up for Autism T-shirt. T-shirts and other Step Up for Autism memorabilia will be for sale during the day.

All money raised through Step Up for Autism will stay in Chautauqua County to support people on the autism spectrum and others with developmental disabilities. For more information or to register, phone 661-1477, email vicky.bardo@resourcecenter.org or visit the web site – www.stepupforautism.com.