Caldwell College to Hold 5K Run/Walk for Autism

Runners, walkers and anyone whose life has been affected by autism, it's time to mark your calendar for the second annual 5K Run/Walk for Autism at Caldwell College.

The run/walk will take place this year on Saturday, April 16, and will once again start on the college campus and make its way through the tree-lined streets of Essex Fells. 

CBS 2 Meteorologist John Elliott will kick off this year’s event. 

Last year’s run and raised more than $20,000 for Caldwell College's new state-of-the-art Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which offers intervention services for individuals affected by autism.

The 1-mile Fun Run/Walk around campus will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K run at 9 a.m. The 5K run is a USATF certified course and 500 Point Grand Prix event. Registration and complimentary breakfast will be available beginning at 6:30 a.m. 

Awards will be given to the top three 5K finishers overall, top finishers in each five-year age group, and to all children who participate in the Fun Run/Walk. Registration fees received before April 1 are $25 for adults and $7 for children under ten. After April 1, registration is $30 for adults and $10 for children under 10. USATF members pay $18 at any time. Fees include a souvenir t-shirt. 

“It’s  so amazing to me how hundreds and hundreds of people come out to show their support for what we do at the Center and to honor their loved ones on the spectrum, “ said Prof. Sharon Reeve, director of the Center for Autism & Applied Behavior Analysis.

The Caldwell College Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) will also host an educational workshop on “Technological Applications in the Treatment of Children with Autism” on the day prior to the 5K Run, Friday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New Jersey has the highest prevalence of autism in the nation. The CDC reports that one in 94 individuals in the state has an autism spectrum disorder.

Caldwell College, a leader in developing professionals to teach children with autism, began offering New Jersey’s first and only Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in Fall 2009. The college was also the first in the state to offer a master’s degree in ABA.

For more information on any of these events, or to sponsor a runner, visit www.caldwellcollege5Krun.com, email 5Krun@caldwell.edu or call 973-618-3297.