Hello my name is Kate and I am excited to be supporting the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. I am a special education teacher that feels very passionately about helping people and families affected by autism. Over the years, I have seen the burden that can weigh down a family when they do not have the support they need to help their child, or family member, with autism. From doctors appointments, PT, OT, specialized devices, and so much more that feeling of "normal" can feel so out of reach without a loving, supportive, and caring community. I have been part of that community for over a decade and am expanding my reach with this fundraiser. I am excited to help provide opportunities for even more families get the care and resources they so desperately need.
Thank you for donating to this wonderful organization.
Why I Am Running
I chose to run the Dopey Challenge for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism because it's a representation of how far I've come. I was very sick for about 6 years and went through every test known without any conclusive results. I dealt with painful attacks, thousands of doctors appointments, dozens of tests, hundreds of pages of food journals, and more. I wasn't healthy and nobody could figure out why. Finally, in 2016 I had the attack that ended all attacks. I was taken to the emergency room where I was immediately admitted for 8 days and 2 emergency surgeries. Now, I still struggle with my weight and motivation, but I've decided this is the year to take control back. I'm happy, healthy, and want to show that I can do anything... even the Dopey Challenge.