Sandra Iwata

I am honored to have been selected to run the runDisney Halloween 10k at Disneyland this year in support of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. Their vision of “a world where people with autism lead productive lives where they are included, respected, and actively engaged in their communities” is very meaningful to me. As the mother of an adult son on the autism spectrum, that has been my focus since my son was diagnosed 26 years ago. With my son Jamie’s permission, I would like to share some of the reasons I feel so strongly about the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation.

While the Foundation has many programs to support individuals with autism and their families, the program that resonated with me most is their Spectrum of Sound. This is a group of young adults who are passionate about music and sharing their voices to make a difference. With the support of the Foundation, they have created a performing group that plays at community events.

As those of you who know Jamie are aware, making a difference with music is what he is all about. In fact, he feels that music saved him. As a young teen, he struggled with feeling somehow “less than” his peers both academically and socially. He couldn’t understand why things that were so hard for him were easy for others. It was a talent show for the school choir that cracked open a door to his developing self esteem and respect from his peers. Because despite my fear that he would get onstage and freeze, he got onstage and lit up.

I had always known about his love of music, he would sing more than he would talk growing up. With the realization that he loved to perform, I signed him up for the after-school program at our local School of Rock (yes, it’s a real thing!). He took voice and guitar lessons and performed in their rock shows, soon becoming one of their top performers. He was even selected to do a tour with SOR’s All Star group, the very best students from across the country. It was on one of these tours that he discovered that his music could make a difference for others. I will let his words tell you what happened on that tour:

The whole tour was great and I got to play at some amazing venues like Red Rocks and Lollapalooza, but there was one special show in Palm Springs where we played at Camp Ronald McDonald. Not only was it the best show on the tour, but it was also where I realized how powerfully music can impact a person’s life.

Camp Ronald McDonald is a place where kids who are diagnosed with cancer can enjoy what it’s like to be a kid. When we started playing it was non-stop fun throughout the whole show. After the show the kids lined up to have autographs signed by us. As we were signing autographs I saw that they were filled with joy at getting to see us even though they didn’t know who we were. To know that these kids have had to live difficult lives from a really tough disease and yet to see them so happy from something we did was something I’ll never forget. That day at Camp Ronald McDonald I realized that the emotions I had discovered I could express through music could have a strong impact on someone else’s life too.

He had found a world in which he was included, respected, and could be actively engaged in his community. Just like the goal of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. And he has taken that opportunity to heart in a big way. He went on to get a college degree in Songwriting and a second degree in Music Therapy.  He now works as a certified music therapist at a state mental hospital. It is balm for his soul to use his skills and talents to help others who are struggling. Because of course he still struggles too.

So I will be thrilled to lace up my running shoes and run the runDisney Halloween 10k at Disneyland for the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation. I believe in their goals and hope you will also support their programs with a contribution. As you can see from my pictures, I delight in running in crazy costumes at races. So on the outside I will no doubt be running as some fun and spooky character. But on the inside, I will always be the proud mom of a son who chose to make a difference.

Thank you for signing up and fundraising for the 2023 Springtime Surprise Weekend! This is your fundraising page where you can set a goal, upload images, and share on social media with donors. 

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